tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42771688890407916182024-02-19T16:49:24.874-06:00The Chronicles of NatStrolling through life at a leisurely pace.nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.comBlogger1273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-14349894839716085232016-10-30T15:39:00.001-05:002016-10-30T15:40:02.103-05:00Tea Cup and Mug Exchange #9<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been quite a long time since I posted anything on the blog, almost six months to be exact. I've had a lot going on this year and honestly, I had planned to write about all of it. That plan, however, did not work out. Blogging has been the furtherest thing from my mind and I have had no desire to write. Don't count on this post being my big comeback either. I think for the most part my blogging days are done. Then again, once I finish school, I may need another outlet and pick it up again, but I am not making any promises. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today my post is about a tea cup exchange. I participated in a tea cup exchange earlier this year right before I moved out of my house. Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose hosted another mug exchange last month and since I loved it so much the first time around, I decided to participate again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was given the name of Maureen from Pittsburgh and I sent her a tea cup and saucer as well as my favorite tea from Celestial Seasonings, Coconut Chai Thai. I discovered this tea when I was in Colorado on vacation earlier this year and my dad and I toured the Celestial Seasonings factory (which was a fantastic tour, by the way). This was one of the teas that we were able to sample and I loved it and bought a box. Since then, I've ordered more boxes and ordered an extra one just for this tea exchange. Hopefully Maureen liked it as much as I do. Also in the box I included a tea towel, a little sign that I picked up at Kirkland's and a small candle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I received a package from Sharon who also happens to live in Pennsylvania. She sent me a cup and saucer that appears to be very old/antique-ish and I love it. The pattern is so pretty and dainty and I have enjoyed drinking tea from it. Sharon also included a box of Pumpkin Chai tea, which, admittedly, I still haven't tried. I have so many different teas at home that I haven't gotten around to trying this one. I really need to do that! Sharon also sent a cookbook from the Amish community close to her home and I have enjoyed looking through the recipes and picking out some things I want to make. As I'm sure you all know, I do very much enjoy cooking! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One again, the tea cup exchange was a very uplifting and fun experience for me and I hope to participate again sometime. </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-83124386889357059702016-05-13T22:03:00.001-05:002016-05-13T22:03:15.815-05:00Here's What's Been Happening on VacationWell, we've been on vacation for a week and one day. I guess I should have written more posts along the way, but I just didn't get around to it. The house we rented in Colorado Springs is just the best. It's more or less like two separate apartments in one building because I have a den with a TV, a bedroom and a bathroom downstairs and my dad has the same upstairs (along with the kitchen). All of this to say that I've spent my evenings catching up on my television shows that I haven't been able to watch the last few months. The alone time has been just as great as the rest of the vacation.<br />
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Here's a breakdown of some of the things we have done over the past eight days.<br />
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Day one, Thursday, May 05 - Denver Mint, Colorado State Capital<br />
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Day two, Friday, May 06 - A tour of Hammond's Candy, a tour of Coor's and a trip to the Denver Botanic Garden<br />
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Day three, Saturday, May 07 - Went to Boulder, toured Celestial Seasonings, drove to Colorado Springs<br />
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Day four, Sunday, May 08 - Church at Northside Church of Christ, Seven Falls, and church at Pikes Peak Church of Christ<br />
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Day five, Monday, May 09 - Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, Cripple Creek, Manitou Cliff Dwellers, Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods<br />
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Day six, Tuesday, May 10 - Fly fishing in Elevenmile Canyon, US Olympic Training Center<br />
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Day seven, Wednesday, May 11 - Horseback riding, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun<br />
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Day eight, Thursday, May 12 - Rock climbing in Garden of the Gods, Train ride to Pikes Peak<br />
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Day nine, Friday, May 13 - River Gorge Park and a train ride alongside the Arkansas River<br />
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It's been a fun-filled vacation and we have one day left before we head home on Sunday.nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-34323048137262554742016-05-06T20:58:00.001-05:002016-05-06T20:58:03.772-05:00We're On VacationWell, I'm on vacation. That's right, folks, I left during the middle of my home renovation to take a vacation. I'm quite sure nothing will get done while I'm gone; but, for the record, the trip was planned months before the house project was even a thought.<br />
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My dad and I are in Colorado this time around. We flew in to Denver yesterday (May 5) and are here for another day before we head to Colorado Springs for the rest of our trip. After arriving in Denver, we picked up the rental car and drove downtown as we had reservations to tour the Denver Mint at 3:30 p.m. We arrived at the mint about 2:45 p.m. and waited outside for them to open the gates about 30 minutes before the tour. While we were waiting, a guy named Danny from Nebraska came to stand in line. He had taken the train and arrived in Denver that morning and was meeting up with some friends that afternoon to go hiking and camping. He had his backpack with him and backpacks are prohibited at the mint. The guard told him there was no way he could take the tour with his backpack. Long story short, my dad offered to let Danny put his backpack in our car so he could go on the tour. This is the difference in me and my dad. My dad generally thinks all people are good. I generally think all people have a bomb in their backpack. Danny took us up on the offer and we were all able to go in and enjoy the tour.<br />
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The tour lasted about 45 minutes or so and was very interesting. Afterwards we all went to the gift shop and I bought some of the National Park quarters. I am a quarter collector in the sense that when the state quarters came out, I had loads of fun collecting them and got a set from both the Philadelphia and the Denver mints. I really didn't know about the National Park quarters. I had seen a few, but didn't realize it was a new series until a month or so ago. So, I bought all the sets that the Denver mint had to offer because in Alabama it's harder to find coins minted in Denver since Denver minted coins are for areas west of the Mississippi River and Philadelphia minted coins are circulated in areas east of the Mississippi River.<br />
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After the gift shop, we went back to the car and Danny got his backpack and went off to meet his friends. Danny from Nebraska who works at Whole Foods, you were super nice and I'm sorry I was skeptical of your backpack. I hope you had a nice camping trip with your friends. By the way, Danny is a coin collector by way of his grandfather and knew a lot about coins and the value of gold and silver on the market.<br />
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Once we parted ways with Danny, my dad and I went up to the state capital and walked around for a bit. They have tours there, but it was late in the day and the doors were closed so I'm sure the tours were done for the day. We then decided to go to the hotel and check in and then go get some dinner. We ate a local steak restaurant not far from the hotel and my dad obliged me by walking there. It was less than half a mile away and walking does a body good. After dinner, we walked back and called it a night.<br />
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On Friday. we went to the Hammond's Candy Store and took a tour. We watched them make candy canes which was a very interesting process. The tour lasted 30-45 minutes and it was only my dad and I on the tour. Our guide's name was Lisa and she was very nice and very passionate about candy and her job. It was actually a very interesting tour and I'm glad we stopped by there.<br />
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After the candy store, we went to Coor's Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado and took a self-guided tour. It wasn't the best tour I've ever been on, but it was still interesting and at least I can say I've been there. While we were riding the bus to Coor's, the driver mentioned that Buffalo Bill's grave was close by. So, we rode up the mountain to see it for ourselves.<br />
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We then ventured back into Denver and walked around the Denver Botanic Garden. Since we are members of the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, we were supposed to get in free. As it turns out, it was plant sale day and so garden admission was free to everyone, although there were a few places in the garden that were closed. The garden was very nice though and I think we both enjoyed it.<br />
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Once we were done at the garden, we went back to the hotel for a few minutes then on to dinner at Bonefish which was close to an outlet mall. The mall had a Le Crueset outlet store and I decided that I must stop by there. The prices on the dishware were still expensive so I passed on buying anything. I did however make a stop in the Saks and Loft stores and got two dresses and two tops in record time. I could have spent a lot more time in Saks, but my dad was waiting in the car and I didn't want to make him wait forever.<br />
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So far vacation is off to a good start. I'm looking forward to moving on to Colorado Springs where we are sure to do more adventuresome and fun things.<br />
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<br />nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-73387826426866409132016-04-28T19:08:00.003-05:002016-04-28T19:08:35.147-05:00Weeks Four and Five<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Monday, April 18, was the start of week four of the house renovation project. I can't believe how much has already been done and how much there still is to do. I was planning to do an update a lot sooner, but we have been without internet a couple of times recently and it always seems to happen when I have a lot of school work to do. Thankfully, the internet is currently back up and operational and I hope it stays that way through the rest of this week as I have five papers and a final to complete by Sunday. It's the last week of the semester and that thrills me to no end! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The slab was poured on Friday, April 15 and I was able to stop by the Saturday morning after to take a few pictures. They also poured the sidewalk out front at the same time. I really didn't care for the sidewalk at first. I wanted a smaller (in width) sized sidewalk and had talked to Richie about it, but he said it wouldn't look right if we did it they way I wanted. I still think it looks ginormous, but at this point, I'm stuck with it. It'd not terrible, just not what I had in mind and maybe it would have looked goofy if it were not as wide, who knows? My co-worker said it would be a good size for when I'm old and in a wheelchair. I guess he makes a valid point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had also wanted a circular patio and it was poured as a square so that's something I will have to get used to because all these months I've wanted and pictured a circular shaped patio. It doesn't look bad, but again, it just wasn't what I had in mind. C'est la vie as they say in France. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Tuesday afternoon they started the framing and by Wednesday, they were done. It went up so fast! I feel like the space looks even bigger once it was framed in. It's always good to see the walls go up because you are better able to tell the actual size of rooms. It is jaw dropping to walk through, or at least it is for me. I can't believe how much more space there is. It is going to be incredible when it is all finished. I am just so excited about it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the framing was completed, the electrical, plumbing, and air ducts have been roughed in and this week the roof should go on the new part and next week (provided we pass inspection) the sheet rock will be hung. I suspect things will move a little slower now, or we will at least not see as many big changes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Friday (April 22) I met with the cabinet man and designed the layout of the kitchen and picked out where I wanted cabinets and where I wanted drawers and made a few other changes here and there, but still managed to stay within budget. The cabinets will be Shaker style and will be white with black granite countertops. I'm putting in a wall oven also so that I will have two ovens to use during the holidays or when I entertain and I'm beyond excited about that. I went to Lowe's this past Monday and ordered the wall oven and it should come in about two weeks from now. I also bought a ceiling fan and a couple of lights for the back porch. </span></div>
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Since I started writing this many days ago, the roof was installed as was the fireplace. Next up for the fireplace is the stone and masonry that will go around it. The windows were due in today (April 28), but didn't make it in. So, hopefully they will come in tomorrow because we cannot pass framing inspection until the windows are in. </div>
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This Saturday, I'll be at the house pulling nails out of the wooden panels that were taken off the house and were part of the original house. These will be used as the ceiling outside on the patio and I cannot wait to see it complete. I came up with this brilliant idea driving home from girls retreat a couple of weeks ago. I think it is going to look amazing. I may cry when it is complete. The workers will be installing the ceiling this Saturday as well; so, I'll be over there bright and early to pull out nails so they can get to work. </div>
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It's all coming together so nicely. I absolutely cannot believe how wonderful it all is. It's really even better than I imagined.</div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-51822032337032062672016-04-14T21:42:00.003-05:002016-04-14T21:42:53.636-05:00Updates from Week Three<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things continue to move along nicely at the house. There are visible changes every day and it's always exciting to stop by and see what has been torn down or put up. In my last post, I showed some photos of the kitchen. The cabinets had been torn out and the wall had been taken down to the original shiplap wooden boards. The boards were salvaged and are currently being stored in the shed which allowed me to really get a better visual of just how large the improved kitchen will be. Y'all, it is going to be wonderful. I was so excited when I saw how large the space was and envisioned how many cabinets I would have. The kitchen is definitely the heart of my home and I am so excited to have a bigger space to utilize. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new duct work was put in on Friday and Saturday. I'm replacing the HVAC unit with a bigger and more efficient unit and as a result, new duct work was required. In the process, one of my closets was torn out which was a little surprising as I was given no prior warning. I knew the duct work would have to run up from the existing house into the attic and back down into the new part because of the crawl space vs. slab situation I have, but no one told me that particular closet would be utilized for this and I had stored a lot of items inside that closet. So, I had to box those up and take them across the street to my cousin Anna's house to be stored for the next few months. The duct works will have sheet rock around it and then new shelving so it will still be a great linen closet when all is said and done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Wednesday the gravel that goes under the concrete slab was laid out and some more demo took place. The outline for the new sidewalk in the front of the house was also laid out. They had planned for the slab and sidewalk to be poured on Wednesday, but the inspector didn't sign-off until late in the day and so that was postponed until Thursday; but Thursday when I went by, it still wasn't done. Hopefully, it will take place on Friday and then the slab can dry out over the weekend and then the framing should start next week which will be super exciting as even bigger changes will soon be coming! </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-23809151037981132702016-04-08T18:36:00.000-05:002016-04-08T18:36:00.164-05:00So Long Kitchen and Rotten Sub Floor<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Things seems to be moving at a quick pace at the house these days. It's nice to be able to see big changes each afternoon when I stop by the house. Wednesday when I stopped by, the cinder block had been laid in preparation for the slab to be poured. I cleaned up some debris from the yard while I was there. For the life of me I will never understand why construction workers just throw their trash on the ground instead of in the dumpster or the trash bin. I'm sure I'll be cleaning up a lot more in the coming weeks and months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday one of the biggest changes occurred. The workers tore out the kitchen cabinets and the wall where my little pantry once was and started tearing down the wall between the kitchen and the back room. Underneath the wall was old shiplap which had once donned the outside of the house. I had forgotten it was there. We had uncovered it in the first renovation, but this time around I was more enamored with it. I asked the contractor to be gentle when taking it down because I wanted to repurpose it. I have given this assignment to my cousin Jan because she is great at making old things look great and coming up with ideas for random things. She suggested just hanging it on the wall or using the wood to build a little cabinet for the bathroom which I need. At any rate, I'm hopeful that the wood can be salvaged and we can do something fabulous with it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the cabinets were kept in tack as well as the sink. They were placed in one of the bedrooms and I'm assuming the contractor is going to ask me if I want to keep them or trash them or maybe donate them. My plan would be to donate them, but as I'm typing this I was just thinking that I might could hang a couple of the cabinets in the shed for storage. I'll have to ponder that thought. Otherwise, it's all going to the Habitat for Humanity Restore. The sink is being replaced with a farm house sink so it's no longer needed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The plan was to have the utilities turned back on, but the city wouldn't allow it since an addition is being built. So, the contractor had to go to the utilities to order a temporary pole. The contractor's name is Richie, by the way, and so maybe from now on I'll just refer to him by his name. It seems like the right thing to do. Richie also had to have the water transferred to his name for some reason which he told me and I didn't really understand. The new plumbing was also installed on Thursday for where the washing machine will go and miracle of miracles, it will be plumbed to the city sewer line. This makes me super excited! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, the sub floor that was rotting in the living room was torn out and it looked like they were adding some flooring joists. They either ran out of time or wanted the old joists to dry out some before they laid the new sub floor. It's definitely interesting to look at the inner workings of your home. The sub floor in the back bedroom still has to come up and be replaced and I'm hoping they got to all of that on Friday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, everything is moving along nicely and I'm so excited to see the progress each day brings. This weekend I plan to spend a few hours at the house cleaning up debris and trash and straighten up some closets so I can put a few more things on the shelves. I'm storing a few things on the shelves of the closets because I think I mentioned I ran out of room in the POD. The house is in such shambles, but I know it will be great when it's done. I laugh at the thought that I was actually planning on staying in the house during all of this craziness. What in the world was I thinking? I'm so glad I moved. I cannot imagine trying to live in the house with all that demo being done. </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-6567697146373770102016-04-06T19:31:00.000-05:002016-04-07T07:09:16.581-05:00Week Two Is Underway<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since my last post about the house, there have been quite a few changes. I stopped by on Sunday to get the mail and my Japanese maple tree (so I can try and keep it watered and alive) and walked around to see if there were any new changes. It appears that the phone company finally showed up and disconnected the line from the house. However, instead of doing anything with the line, it seems they just kind of left it dangling in the back alley. I hate to break it to them, but I have no intention of them reconnecting that line so they may as well come on back out and cut it completely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday afternoon I stopped by and discovered that the new meter box had been installed on the side of the house. It isn't hooked up yet (we have to pass inspection first), but that should happen some time this week I would think. On the inside of the house, a hole had been cut in the inside wall adjacent to where the new meter box was installed in order to run a line from the meter box over to the breaker box and there was a hole in wall where the breaker box was as well. Other than those few things, it didn't appear like much had been done on Monday other than someone getting their muddy footprints in the bathroom which isn't supposed to be used by anyone (that's another post for another day). Thankfully, the port-o-potty should arrive this week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday morning I got a call from the contractor who was concerned about some food that had been left in the fridge. The power had been off for about five days and he was concerned the food would be rotting. But, there were only some sodas and condiments inside so I assured him I could come by and throw them out that afternoon. I stopped by after work and cleaned out the fridge and freezer. There were only condiments and sodas in the fridge as I suspected. The freezer, however, had some ice cream bars and creamed corn which I apparently didn't notice when I dumped some things out last week. There were also a lot of chocolate chips and pecans, all of which I gave to my friend Cindy who will be making desserts for my cousin Tyler's wedding in May. Maybe she will be able to use some of those things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The workers had torn out all of the hardwood flooring and taken the dishwasher out and started taking down the trim around the doors and windows in the rooms that are going to be knocked out. The cinder block for the reinforcement of the slab was also delivered and the dumpster finally arrived and was placed in the front yard, not the back, which was not what I was expecting, but hey, less grass to mow. I moved the furniture from the front porch down the street to my cousin Anna's house as well as my ironing board and a couple of bins that were missed in the move to the POD. When moving things down the street, I almost stepped on the skeleton of a possum that was laying in the front yard. So, I sent a text to the contractor and asked him if it had been found under the house. He ended up calling me and saying that yes, it had been found under the house when they disconnected the dishwasher and then proceeded to tell me what a hot mess my plumbing was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Y'all, first let me say I was not at all surprised to find out about the plumbing. When my dad, granddad and I renovated the house 11 years ago, we sub-contracted all of the work. One day I came by the house to be introduced to the plumber and about fell off the porch when I discovered that it was a guy I had gone to high school with and immediately knew this was not going to be a good situation. The guy's name was Kevin Sisk and I'm publishing his name only because I want EVERYONE to know it and know he should NEVER be hired for any plumbing work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Y'all, first let me say I was not at all surprised to find out about the plumbing. When my dad, granddad and I renovated the house 11 years ago, we sub-contracted all of the work. One day I came by the house to be introduced to the plumber and about fell off the porch when I discovered that it was a guy I had gone to high school with and immediately knew this was not going to be a good situation. The guy's name was Kevin Sisk and I'm publishing his name only because I want everyone to know it and know he should NEVER be hired for any plumbing work. I voiced my concern to my dad and granddad because the guy was a few bulbs short in high school, good looking, but dumb as a rock, and I didn't think he would be capable of putting anything together, let alone plumbing. My granddad, bless his soul, wanted to give Kevin the benefit of the doubt and let me tell you, my dad and I had to show up at his house in the wee hours of the morning just to catch him at home and make him come finish the shoddy work he started. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The bad plumbing resulted in my having to spend thousands of dollars to have the flooring and sub-flooring replaced in my spare bedroom because the floor had rotted because the washing machine wasn't connected to the sewer line. The flooring in my den has been rotting away for years and I had always thought it was from the HVAC unit condensation, but it now appears it could have been from the dishwasher because apparently it wasn't hooked up to the sewer line either and all the water was just being sent under the house. The contractor went on to say that whoever did the plumbing wasn't a plumber and he has seen some things he has never seen before. How in the name of the Lord that plumbing passed inspection 11 years ago is beyond me. I'm thinking either Kevin paid the inspector or the inspector was too lazy to crawl under the house and actually inspect the plumbing. If I wasn't having to use the inspection department right now, I might sue them. I think it goes without saying that this situation has made me a little hot under the collar. At any rate, if you ever need a plumber, DO NOT HIRE KEVIN SISK! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, that's where we are as of Tuesday afternoon. No doubt there is more drama to unfold. </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-29335357995779710052016-04-01T21:13:00.002-05:002016-04-01T21:13:36.652-05:00A Foot and a Half Became Six Inches<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last post about my house, I made mention of the property line and how the new structure had to be four feet off the property line and how my dad ordered a survey, but then I told him to cancel. Well, apparently we couldn't cancel because after the failed inspection, the city required a survey of the property line. So, the surveyors came out and as it turns out, my fence was not on the property line and I had about one foot more of property than thought. So, instead of the addition being offset by one and a half feet, it will only be offset by six inches which is really not a big deal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My dad talked to the zoning commission and I could have gone before them to ask for a variance to keep the new structure in line with the existing house. There was a lot of paperwork and such that would needed to be completed, including getting permission from all neighbors within 500 feet of the property, which wouldn't have been a big deal, but it would have delayed us a few days. We also might run the risk of aggravating the inspector and that could lead to problems down the road. So, we talked about it and decided to just offset by six inches since six inches isn't really a lot of space. We felt it would just be easier in the long run. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, on Wednesday, the concrete truck came out and poured the footing for the slab. When I went by the house that afternoon, I discovered the telephone line I mentioned in my last post was still connected to the house when I got there. I also realized some time during the day on Wednesday that the line that the builder needed cut was actually not the telephone line, but instead a cable line which was being used for the internet. So, I called the internet service provider and arranged for them to come out and cut their line off the house as well. Then, I called AT&T again about the ticket I opened on Monday. The lady on the phone told me the ticket had been closed on Monday and the work was completed. I told her that was funny since I opened the ticket on Monday, they were supposed to come Tuesday and here is is Wednesday and the line is still connected to the house. We set up another appointment for the techs to come out on Friday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday morning at 7:00 a.m., the utility company called me and wanted to confirm that the line needed to be taken off the house and service disconnected that day. It was pouring down rain and I'm sure they were hoping I would say no. I told them, yes, to please go ahead and disconnect and cut the line. We are transferring the utilities from overhead to underground and so it should be connected back some time next week. Around 8:30 a.m. the internet company called. Apparently the technician was unclear on what exactly needed to be done; so, I explained to him that the line needed to be cut off the house because that particular was was going to be knocked down. I then asked him about transferring from overhead to underground for the cable as well and he said, yes, that could be done, but there was a fee associated with it. There's a fee for everything, y'all. I assured him, the fee was no issue and that I would be in touch about that soon. Thursday afternoon I stopped by the house to pick up the mail and a couple of packages and confirmed both the cable line and the utility line had been cut and the meter was gone from the house. I guess they must take it when they disconnect service. Who knew? Not me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Friday they are supposed to lay cinder block if the concrete is dry and next will be gravel and the slab and then framing should start next week. It's all going very well so far and I'm really excited to see the daily progress! </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-39312204770012263362016-03-30T19:20:00.000-05:002016-03-30T19:20:09.496-05:00The Enchanting Rose Tea Cup Exchange #8<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently participated in a tea cup/mug exchange sponsored by <a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/">The Enchanting Rose</a>. Erika had done this previously and really enjoyed it and sent me an email when this most recent one was announced. You may recall that Erika actually wrote a guest post on the blog describing the goodies she received from her last mug exchange. I loved hearing about all the lovely things Erika received in her package and since I don't have enough going on in my life right now (she says sarcastically) I decided to go ahead and participate this time around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A week or so after the sign-up deadline, I received an email with the information of the person to whom I was supposed to send a mug and gift. You are supposed to send a mug or tea cup (depending on what you signed up for) and some tea or coffee and another small gift. I signed up for the tea cup exchange and received the name of Maggie in Missouri. I bought her a tea cup and saucer and spoon set that was a pink floral pattern, a bag of Front Porch Special Tea from Piper and Leaf (my favorite!) and a dish towel with pictures of historical landmarks in Huntsville. I included a note describing why I chose each item and included my information inside and sent it to her on Monday, March 21.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I went by my house this past Monday to check on the progress of things and collect the mail, I had a thank you note from Maggie and a package from the person who got my name. As it turns out, Maggie is 12 years old and is the fifth of eight children! When I signed up for the exchange, I didn't even consider that there would be young girls participating. I guess I just assumed it would be a lot of old ladies (yes, Erika and I often consider ourselves old ladies). Maggie's thank you note was very sweet and she mentioned she would like to get to know me. This brought back very fond memories for me because as a child I had many pen pals and loved writing letters to people. In fact, I still have most of those letters. This was long before the days of email and blogs when the written word was still cherished. At any rate, I wrote Maggie a letter and am planning on sending her another small package soon with some small gifts I think she will enjoy. One gift I had actually ordered when I got her name, but it didn't come in before I had to send my package. I've thought a lot about Maggie since I got her thank you note. I hope we will stay in touch over the years. I think it will just warm my heart to watch her grow into a young lady and see what life has in store for her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As for the package I received, it was absolute perfection. I really don't recall what all I included in my likes and dislikes on the information page, but Emilee from Utah interpreted it beautifully and sent me a box full of wonderful surprises. First of all, she taped the box so well I wasn't sure I would be able to open it; but, I was finally successful in the opening of the box and loved everything that was inside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The tea cup Emilee chose was a cream color with a navy pattern and it was just gorgeous! I am planning to paint my new dining room navy and so the tea cup is just perfect! Also in the box was some pomegranate tea and lemon cookies. I'm really looking forward to trying the tea and will probably enjoy a cookie as well. My cousin Jan and I have been having hot tea at night and so I have no doubt the pomegranate tea will be put to good use. Emilee also sent a cute "things to do" note pad which is just perfect for me because if anyone loves to make a "to do" list it's yours truly. Finally, there was a cute dish towel inside which depicted flowers and birds and water cans and was very cute. I'm anxious to use everything included in my basket. Emilee did a fantastic job of picking out items for me without even knowing me! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I told Erika just the other day that I wasn't sure if I would participate in the mug exchange again because I had spent a little more money than I had ever intended. However, after receiving my thank you from Maggie and my package from Emilee, I think I will definitely participate the next time. Erika had told me she found the last exchange very encouraging and uplifting and you know what, so did I. I'll be on the lookout for the next time The Enchanting Rose does an exchange and I'll try to remember and post it here so you all can participate as well if you want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time...</span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-58146766856595573462016-03-29T20:16:00.003-05:002016-03-29T20:16:39.003-05:00Days One and Two<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps all it took was a post about nothing being done at my house for something to be done because I'm pleased to announce that work began on my house this Monday, March 28! I'm super excited to see red clay instead of patchy grass in my back yard and soon there will be a concrete slab where the addition will be built. It's all starting and I'm just pleased as punch! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They started moving dirt a little after 7:00 a.m. and it wasn't long before I got a call about the lines attached to the house. Long story short, we determined that in addition to the utility line (which will be taken care of on Wednesday), there was a phone line coming into the house which also needed to be taken down and I needed to call someone to take care of it. Considering I had a phone line for about three months about nine years ago, I had no idea who to call. I'm pretty sure when I had my landline for a brief shining moment that I set it up through BellSouth and BellSouth doesn't even exist any more. I ended up calling AT&T and miracle of miracles, after I made it through two automated systems and one transfer, I had an appointment for the crew to come out and disconnect the line and it only took about 15 minutes of my life. I was thrilled it went so swimmingly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday the backhoe man came and dug the footing for the slab. They decided to put a base of cinder block and rebar in trenches as a base to make it more stable. I went out Monday afternoon to take some pictures and they were still there working. They finished up about 5:30 p.m., packed up the backhoe and headed out. It was super exciting to see the work that had been done and gave me a better understanding of how big the space would be and how far it would go back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Tuesday morning, the concrete man was supposed to come, but first an inspection of the footing was in order. We failed. Y'all, we failed the first inspection! I feel a long road ahead. The building has to be four feet off the property line and according to the footing and the fence line, it was too close. My dad ordered a survey because there was some thought that my property actually went beyond my fence. The survey was going to cost $500 and if there wasn't another foot and a half on the other side of the fence that was my property, then there was also going to be a charge for the backhoe man to come out and redo the footing on that side. We talked it through and both though that there was some property on the other side of my fence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then after hanging up with my dad I started thinking about it and decided to cancel the survey because I really don't think there is a foot and a half of property on the other side of the fence. Long story short, I had to put that fence up because of a property line dispute with the previous owner of the property next door and I'm sure we put it on the line, if not a few inches off the line which means the footing would have to be moved. So, instead of paying $500 for the survey and whatever extra charge for having the backhoe man come out, I decided to do away with the survey fee and just pay the backhoe man more. This also means the back bedroom will be offset by a foot and a half, which will look a little goofy, but there's really no other way around it. I'll just have to make it work.. You would think we would have known about this four foot from the property line requirement before we starting digging, but you know, those are the breaks. I'm currently just looking at it as having saved myself $500 that I didn't have to spend. I'll adjust, It will be okay. In the end, it will still look great and I'll have the added space I want and need and it will still be beautiful when it's all said and done, just a foot and a half less wide.</span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-49957049605574141542016-03-28T21:46:00.004-05:002016-03-28T21:46:49.154-05:00Pippa's Place<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, since my last post, there still hasn't been any work done at my house. The backhoe man was supposed to have come at the end of the week ending March 18 and then he was supposed to come at the end of this week (March 25), and now he is supposed to come on Tuesday, March 29. I'll believe it when I see it. I think the most frustrating part of construction is waiting to get started. The backhoe man didn't put any jobs in front of mine, but he was apparently backed up on jobs he already had scheduled because of all the rain we have had recently. Of course, it's supposed to rain next week as well and so I am not very hopeful that he will start then. I'm just really ready to get the show on the road because I've been out of my house for two weeks and nothing has been done and that is super frustrating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know I wrote a little bit about finding Pippa a place to stay in my last post, but apparently I wanted to write even more about it in this one. Finding a home for Pippa has been a nightmare. She was originally staying with my brother's "friend", but then the "friend" had to go out of town because of a family situation and Pippa was left to her own devices. Long story short, when I went to check on The Pip while the "friend" was out of town, there was a note on the door from animal services and other things I wasn't too happy about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I arranged for Pippa to go out to New Hope to meet the dogs of some friends of my parents. They had said that if Pippa got along with their dogs they would keep her for me. Well, Pippa did fine, but two of the four dogs that belong to my parents' friends did not like Pippa. We all felt like if the dogs were left alone they would try to attack Pippa and no one wanted that. Then I tried her at my cousins house (the house where I am staying), but my cousins' dog Rosie and Pippa didn't get along too well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, Pippa ended up staying at our empty house a couple of days by herself and was let out in the mornings, evenings and afternoons by whoever could make it by (primarily my cousin Randy who lives across the street). I did some searching on the internet and found a web site with insured, background checked, trained dog sitters and emailed a few of them. I corresponded back and forth with one lady and made arrangements for Pippa to go to her house on Sunday afternoon to meet her dogs and her and to look at the place. We arrived and Pippa got along great with all of the dogs. The lady worked with me on a price that I could afford. It's about half of my monthly house payment which is a lot less than the original price I was quoted. I was hoping to save that money while the house is being renovated, but paying for peace of mind is worth it in the long run. I think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first night Pippa did great. The lady emails me in the mornings with an update on how Pippa is doing and sends a picture almost every day as well. The lady and her husband let Pip sleep with them and so, I'm sure she felt right at home. The second day, however, Pippa didn't do as well. She had some behavior problems and tried to bite the lady and another man who came with his dog. The lady is working with Pippa on her behavior problems and I'm hoping Pip will improve and not get kicked out. I'm also hoping the lady will teach me her methods because goodness knows I need to learn a few tricks myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, I think this is the best situation I could have found for Pippa. She has a great yard to roam around in and gets to stay inside like she is accustomed to. I'm sure she's staying clean and getting lots of love and the people who are caring for her are just super nice. I'm just pleased as punch about founding Ashley and her husband Shawn and I am hopeful Pippa will have a great experience there and also not forget about her mamma!</span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-7944672161383584842016-03-27T20:32:00.000-05:002016-03-29T20:36:25.714-05:00Book Review: I Will Follow Jesus Bible Storybook<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I need to review for you a wonderful children's Bible. I've had this book for a while now and have been meaning to post a review; but, between work, school, packing, moving, and having the flu, I just haven't had a chance to do it. Until now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"I Will Follow Jesus Bible Storybook" was written by Judah and Chelsea Smith and it retails for about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Will-Follow-Jesus-Bible-Storybook/dp/0718033868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459301415&sr=8-1&keywords=i+will+follow+jesus+bible+storybook">$12 on Amazon.</a> It is a little over 200 pages and is geared towards children ages four to eight. There is a different story on every page with a scripture reference. The stories sum up the scripture reference and come with a very detailed and colorful picture which depicts the story being told. There are usually children in each of the pictures and I think the thing I love about this most is that there are children of all shapes and sizes, ages and stages, and color in each of the photos. In other words, it's not all a bunch of pretty white kids and I think that makes it more relatable to all children. The book is a hardback and is about the size of around 7x8 inches. It's a good size for carrying to church or leaving by your child's bedside so you can read a story from it each night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The book does not cover every verse in the Bible, but does include most familiar stories from both the Old and New Testaments such as Noah's ark, Zacchaeus, Daniel and the lion's den, Jonah and the big fish among others. It's such a cute book and I think it will help interest your children in learning more about the Bible and also help them learn what it means to follow Jesus. </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-2902956069486394282016-03-22T20:04:00.000-05:002016-03-22T20:04:16.881-05:00It's March, Almost April!<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a long time since I've posted anything. I guess I've only posted twice this whole year. I've really enjoyed the break and haven't missed blogging at all. Between work, school, and the insanity of life lately, all I want to do is sleep in the evenings and so blogging and writing haven't been at the forefront of my brain. However, this week I was thinking that I probably should do some writing because I've got a lot going on and I'd hate to look back on 2016 and wonder what I did that year and then not have a record of any of it. So, I'll try to do better about posting because I've actually got some exciting things going on right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll start with what I've been up to for the first few months of this year. I won't go into a play by play detail because we would be here all day, but I can probably sum it up so you'll get the gist of what's been going on around these parts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In February I celebrated my 39th birthday which I wrote a little about. In addition to the things I wrote about in my birthday post, I also went out to dinner with various groups of friends and family and to a local songwriter's showcase with another set of friends. It was a great month and the celebrations lasted about three weeks which is as it should be. At the end of February I went to the Alabama-Auburn basketball game with friends and we enjoyed a super fun day in Tuscaloosa. The month of February ended with a trip to the Donald Trump political rally with my cousins Lauren and Jon Mark. I went because I thought it would be an interesting day of people watching and you never know what is going to come out of Trump's mouth. We had a good time and left before it was over so we could beat the traffic and we got bored. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first day of March was voting day in Alabama and I fulfilled my duty as inspector of my precinct. It was a long, long day and I was exhausted after spending 14 hours at the polls and working my fingers to the bone (as they say). I had a whole new crew working with me that day but they all did great. I had to chase off one news reporter and one campaigner and dealt with so many different bizarre scenarios I couldn't even begin to tell you all about them. As always, it was a rewarding day and I look forward to doing it two more times this year when we have the municipal elections and the general election. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first weekend of March I chaperoned a high school spring retreat for church and it was just as I suspected with terrible food and think bunk bed mattresses; but, overall it was a good weekend. I developed a cough the Saturday I was on the retreat and by the time Monday rolled around I had a fever and felt like I had been hit by a freight train. I went to the doctor and had an ear infection and they sent me home with an antibiotic, but I felt like it was something more. On Wednesday when I was still running a fever and not feeling any better, I ventured back to the doctor and had a flu test which came back positive. It was too late for any medications so I had to ride it out. I spent the whole week in bed and missed work every day. It was miserable. That same week my mom was in the hospital with fluid on her lungs and two broken ankles from falling out of her wheelchair. Sometimes we just can't catch a break. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Saturday after I had the flu I moved out of my house which is probably news to some of you and not to the rest. After a whirlwind idea during Christmas break that I drew out on a piece of paper which turned into a set of blueprints, I am adding on to my little house and doing some renovations to the inside. I will be adding on about 600 square feet of living space and another 200 of a covered patio with an outdoor fireplace. The living space includes a dining room and an expansion of the back bedroom with built in bookcases and a walk-in closet which will also hold the washer and dryer. On the inside I am tearing down a wall between the kitchen and the room on the back of the house and making that one large kitchen complete with new cabinets and granite counter tops and a second oven which makes my heart so happy. The floor and sub floor in the back bedroom and the den will be torn out because the floors are rotting in both of those rooms. Every room will get a new coat of paint and the entire house will have new hardwood flooring. I'll also have some landscaping done which will include sod in the front yard and crepe myrtles along the back fence. The project is supposed to take three months (I'm counting on four because I know how these things go) and I'm very excited about the outcome. I think it is going to be gorgeous and I can't wait to see the end result of my Christmas break brainstorm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a result of having all the work done, Pippa and I had to vacate the premises. Originally the builder said there would be no electricity for two months, but now that might not be the case. Still, it's probably better that we are not there. So, on Saturday, March 12, some friends and cousins and I moved everything out of the house and into a POD which is being stored in South Huntsville. I moved in with my cousins Benny and Jan which has been great. It is a little weird to come home to real people when you haven't lived with anyone for 10 years, but so far things are going great. Pippa was living with a friend of my brother's for a little while, but it wasn't working out. Thankfully, I found her a great place to stay over the weekend. I found a dog sitter who lives on the Flint River out in north east Huntsville and Pippa moved in there this week. The lady and her husband are so nice and worked with me on a price I could afford. They send pictures and updates in the mornings and are even letting The Pip sleep with them. I will probably pick her up on Saturdays and let her hang out with me while I go work at the house because I don't want her to forget who I am. I think she is going to do really well at this temporary home and I just feel so great about finding these wonderful people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, that's what's been going on this year. It's been insanely busy and crazy, but, really, I wouldn't have it any other way. </span></div>
nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-79436882538604847152016-02-08T18:43:00.000-06:002016-02-08T18:43:09.881-06:00'Twas the 39th Anniversary of My Birth<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was my 39th anniversary this past Monday. I'm now walking in the 40th year of my life and I'm here to tell you, that seems a little weird. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This year's birthday was much, much better than last year's disaster - thank goodness! I kicked off the birthday weekend by welcoming my new furniture into my home. Santa and Mrs. Claus put some money towards new furniture for me for Christmas and it finally came in the week before my birthday and was delivered on Saturday January 30. It looks so great. I just love it! I got a new couch and a chair and ottoman. The couch is grey and the chair and ottoman are off white with grey polka dots. I also bought some coverings to keep on them when it's just me and Pip at home. That way we can (hopefully) keep things clean. Pip has done really well with the furniture so far. The decorative pillows that came with the furniture are sitting in another chair and thankfully Pip hasn't eaten any of them. I did take the couch cushions away from her during the day because the way she lays on them to look out the window causes the shape to warp and it's hard to fluff them back into place. So, she is cushion-less during the day which is probably for the best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The day before my birthday, my dad and I headed up to Nashville. We left about 12:30 and made the journey north. We had bought tickets for the NHL All-Star game which was held at Bridgestone Arena. I grew up loving hockey and my dad is a fan as well, although he doesn't follow it as closely as I do. When I found out the All-Star game was going to be in Nashville the day before my birthday, I made it a point to start watching tickets like a hawk. It became sort of an obsession and I was checking prices about every 30 minutes; but, it paid off because I bought tickets in a pretty great location one week before the game and the next day the prices started rising again. So, I think it worked out perfectly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had the best time at the game. We've had a lot of good times and seen a lot of amazing things, but this game might have been one of the funnest and most exciting things we have ever done for ourselves. We cheered and jeered and laughed and watched people and just thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I am so glad we went! We ate at Outback in Nashville before heading home and arrived back in Huntsville around 11:00 p.m.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The actual day of my birthday was also a good day. I took the day off work which I have never done on my birthday. I went to Jones Valley Elementary to have a make-up day with my lunch buddy (our last day had been cancelled because of snow) and then I went and ate lunch with my parents, grandparents and sweet Ada. We went to Red Lobster which is my birthday spot. I have eaten their for years on my birthday and decided not to brake with tradition this year. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and then most everyone came back to my house to see the new furniture and give me a few gifts. Most of the gifts had to be returned because I had already bought them for myself and my mom and dad didn't communicate on the gift giving front, My dad had already ordered a pair of boots I wanted. Communication is key my friends! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That evening I went to Ladies' Bible study and celebrated again with my friend Amberly who shares a birthday with me. Her mom hosted Bible study that night and we had a delicious meal. While at study, we received news that my dear friend Leah gave birth to her first child, a daughter, Juniper Willoughby. I think it goes without saying that the weekend of the 39th anniversary of my birth was indeed a great one. </span></div>
nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-23477592176653511342016-01-28T18:09:00.001-06:002016-01-28T18:09:09.341-06:00The Return of Nat<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, here we are again. I guess you could say I took a break from blogging for a while. It was actually unintentional, but then I didn't miss it and decided to just not write for a while and then I toyed with the idea of giving it all up because how many times can I write about a trip to the circus and make it sound interesting each time? Plus, I rarely get any comments and so I just wasn't motivated to write and I was too busy to care. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then my friend Candy text me about it saying I needed to write a post and then I got an email from my mom and then I got a text from my cousin Amy and so there are at least three people in the world who actually read the nonsense I put on this blog and so here we are with a new post in a new year, my eighth year to be precise. How the time flies. So, here's the deal, I'll write when I feel like it or when something interesting is going on or when I have time. I am still working full time and taking a full load this semester in graduate school an so, obviously there are other things that will take priority over blogging. I'm not promising a post every day, nor am I promising a post every week (although I will try), but I am promising to blog when I can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Furthermore, I have a big project that is shaping up to start in the next couple of months and it is a project that I definitely want to have a journal of and so I suspect that when this giant project gets going I'll be motivated to write a little more, provided I'm not too tired or stressed or curled up in a ball crying some where. I've also made some other changes that I should probably write about and so hopefully the writing bug will bite me soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I wrote my last post way back in December, here are the things that have happened:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Downtown Christmas Parade was at night this past December and it was way better than it had been in years. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Living Christmas Tree was on par with previous year's performances, although a little strange in some parts. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">My dad and I cooked a really nice Christmas dinner for the family and I think it was a big success. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was no snow on Christmas, but that probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went to the Symphony on New Year's Eve, doing something for myself for a change, and it was the best New Year's Eve I have ever had. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to the circus and took my four-year-old cousin Greer. It was his first circus and it was so fun to see the wonder and amazement on his face. As it turns out, it was the last time we will ever see the elephants at the circus and that makes me a little sad. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The daughter of a friend got married and my cousins and I danced the night away at the reception. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I said good bye to one of my favorites, Judge Frank Riddick. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We celebrated another birthday of three cousins.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">We've had multiple family dinners and lots and lots of laughter. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've binged watched loads of television</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alabama won a football national championship.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I won the Parker Football Bowl Challenge for the second year in a row! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">My family discovered my weird love of the calendar. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started my second semester of graduate school and two weeks in I can confirm it is a doozie! I'm not loving it like I did last semester; but, alas, this too shall pass and hopefully so will my grades. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That about sums things up. Not too many details, but, that's what I've been up to. I hope to write again soon. Until then, be praying that I survive the next few months because I might have 37 too many irons in the fire. </span></div>
nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-59827419760231714322015-12-17T20:16:00.002-06:002015-12-17T20:16:39.494-06:00How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This past Saturday my parents and I went to Nashville for the day to see "How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical." The Grinch (the original cartoon one that is) is probably my favorite of the Christmas classics. My mom gets me a Lennox Grinch figurine every year for Christmas and I just generally love the story. So, when I saw that the musical was coming to Nashville I decided to go and asked my parents if they'd like to come along as well. Mother said yes, my dad said no and so I bought two tickets for me and my mother. Then my dad felt left out and so I bought him a ticket too. Long story short, the play was this past Saturday and the three of us went. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We left Huntsville around 10:00 a.m. and headed north. We anticipated the traffic to be slightly insane around the Grand Ole Opry and it was; but, we found a restaurant close by and were able to enjoy a nice lunch before making our way over tot he Opry House. After lunch we had about an hour to spare before the show started and it took almost that long to get the two or three miles from the restaurant to the venue. We were having no luck finding a parking spot; so, my dad dropped me and mother off at the curb so we could get the tickets from Will Call and he went off to find a spot to park. Mother and I got the tickets and left my dad's at Will Call for him since we didn't know how long it would take him to find a place to park. As luck would have it, he found a spot pretty soon after dropping us off and actually beat us to the seats. We were in the balcony and the Opry House has a wheelchair lift that took some time to get to and use. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The show started on time and overall was good. It wasn't as wonderful as I had pictured it in my head. Since I am a lover of the original, I don't like much deviation and this show had a lot of musical numbers that were not in the cartoon. Overall the story was the same, but I think I was anticipating it to be an acted out version of the cartoon as someone narrated and it wasn't like that at all. Also, I was either very tired or it was very slow in some spots because there were times when I thought I might fall asleep. I'm glad we went though because we did all enjoy the outing and it was nice to do something Christmasy that we haven't done before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When the show was over, we headed back to the wheelchair lift and had to wait on some other folks before mother had her turn. We finally made it outside and were soon on our way home. Ya'll when we got on the interstate to head home, you would not believe the amount of traffic trying to exit at Opry Mills for shopping. I bet the traffic was backed up for five miles or more. It was nuts. This is why I shop online, my friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We made it back to Huntsville around 6:30 p.m. or so and called it a night. We had originally planned on going to a concert at the library but by the time we got back, we were all tired and ready to go home. It was a fun day and I'm glad we were able to enjoy some family time together doing something Christmasy. </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-60901781242391106912015-12-13T19:34:00.002-06:002015-12-13T19:34:14.856-06:00Favorite Things Brunch 2015<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned in my last post, the 2015 Favorite Things Brunch was held this past Saturday. Erika, Kendra and Candy all made an appearance again this year and we welcomed back Amy who hasn't been able to join us the last couple of years. We kicked off the festivities around 10:00 a.m. and had a delicious array of food. Erika brought the most delicious cinnamon rolls I've ever put in my mouth. Kendra brought Grape Salad from Chicken Salad Chick. Amy made a French Toast Casserole and Candy brought a hashbrown casserole. I made some breakfast "muffins" which had hashbrowns, eggs and turkey sausage. All the food was super yummy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First on the agenda was eating - of course - and then we spent the next couple of hours talking. I had to run out at noon to pick up my produce basket from Plentiful Produce, but the girls stayed at the house and kept the conversation going while I was gone. Pip spent the morning outside and barked for quite a while until she knocked the glass out of the back storm door. Thankfully I was able to pop it back in and shut the main door and she didn't "say" much after that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I got back from my produce run, we began the favorite things gift exchange. I gave each of the girls a set of measuring cups and a measuring pitcher from The Pioneer Woman's new product line available at Wal-Mart. I bought a set for myself as well and here is a quick review. At a first glance the set is cute, but if you look closer, it does appear to be cheaply made, which is why it is for sale at Wal-Mart and not Anthropologie. My gut tells me these are designed after the ones offered at Anthropolgie because the Pioneer Women herself has featured on her blog and raved about the sets available there, but they are not up to snuff when doing a side by side comparison. Moving on...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Erika gave each of us a bag of goodies. If you know Erika, then you know she is a lover of QVC and so our goodie bag had a lock and lock container and a candle from QVC as well as a hand soap from Bath and Body works - all of which will be put to good use. Kendra's gift to us was a plug in wax warmer. I have a larger counter top one that I use quite often, but this one is a smaller version and plugs directly into the wall. She also gave us a cranberry scented wax melt to use with it. Candy gave each of us a cream eye-shadow from Mary Kay. It is her favorite eye shadow and she picked out a color she thought we would each like. My color is neutral and I've worn it almost every day this week which is really something considering I never wear eye shadow. Last, but not least, Amy gave us each a pack of post-it notes and highlighters because let's be honest, who doesn't love some new school/office supplies?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After the gift exchange, we enjoyed a little more conversation and wrapped things up around 1:30 p.m. or so. It was so fun to get together with these girls who I've known for years and years and years. I love each of them dearly and am thankful we are always able to find time to spend with each other during this very busy time of year - that's my favorite thing of all. </span></div>
nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-57357261480584378912015-12-09T20:53:00.004-06:002015-12-09T20:53:49.439-06:00The First Few Days of December<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Y'all, I need a break, seriously. I look at my calendar every day and look forward to the end of the month when I have a day off from the craziness that has become December. I'm so tired and it's not going to get better any time soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, for starters you may be wondering why I have been scarce lately. Truthfully, you probably are not wondering because the five people that read this blog are my close friends and so you know what has been going on. My mother became ill the day after Thanksgiving and subsequently spent almost a week in the hospital battling an infection. To be honest, we weren't sure she was going to pull through, but things turned around on day six and for that we are grateful. She is still recovering at home but feeling much better. So, as a result of being at the hospital and being tired and being just plain ole busy, I haven't even thought about blogging; so, here's what's been happening in the first few days of December...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Tuesday, December 1, I took a break from going to the hospital in the evening in order to participate in the Galaxy of Lights Fun Run. My cousin Lauren and her son Greer and my friend Lauren also participated. It was a super rainy night, but the rain held off for a little while and we managed to get our walk/run in. Sadly, we all went away empty handed as far as door prizes are concerned. I was a little bummed about that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Friday night I had my Bible school class Christmas party at the home of the aforementioned friend Lauren and her husband Steven. Instead of playing Dirty Santa with gag gifts like we did last year, we played Nerdy Santa with new or "lightly used" books. Our class is so full of characters that you really never know what you are going to get when it comes to playing Christmas games. There was an interesting array of books including how to make coffins and a book stolen from the children's ministry library about talking to your child about sex. It was a lively evening as one might can imagine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last Saturday I hosted the annual Favorite Things brunch for the gals with whom I've been friends the longest. I hope to write a whole post about this as it is truly one of my favorite events of the season. Sunday was church and grocery shopping, and running a few errands, followed by family dinner with the cousins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday night Erika, (the once again aforementioned friend) Lauren and I went to the Heritage Ringers Concert. I know I've mentioned it before, but this free concert is one of my favorite of the season! It was once again held at Trinity Methodist and there was a huge crowd as always. They played some great tunes this year including one from the Grinch! During the concert I was thinking they should record a Christmas CD some time and sure enough at the end of the show, the conductor announced that they had in fact recorded a Christmas CD and so Erika and I both willingly forked over $10 to buy one. It is worth every penny, although I was admittedly sad that "Sleigh Ride" wasn't one of the recorded tracks as it is my favorite number that they perform. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That brings us to Tuesday night which was the annual Agape Board and Staff dinner. This year it was held at Madison Church of Christ and catered by Jim and Nick's BBQ from Cullman. The food was really great and the fellowship was nice as well. Some of the folks at these events can get a little long winded and seeing as how I am a stickler for being home by 8:30 p.m. on a "school night", I started getting antsy around 8:00 p.m. At 8:35 p.m. when people were still giving speeches, I couldn't take it anymore and dismissed myself out the back. I felt kind of bad, but not bad enough to stay. I was ready to be home in my PJs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, that, my friends is the first eight days of December wrapped up neat and tidy for you. The rest of the month isn't slowing down. On one hand it's nice to be busy, but on the other, it's also quite exhausting and I'm anxious for January where I have maybe two things on the calendar. 'Tis the season as they say! </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-73982974538375617792015-12-06T21:03:00.001-06:002015-12-06T21:03:37.354-06:00Book Review: The Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm alive! I know it's been a while. It's been a whirlwind lately and blogging has been about the last thing on my mind. More to come on that (hopefully). Today, I need to provide your with a book review or I might get kicked out of the book reviewing club and I don't want that. It would be so sad! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Way back in October, I chose to review "The Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids" written by Pastor Rick Warren. I have never read "The Purpose Driven Life" but have heard lots of wonderful things about it and so when I saw Pastor Warren had written the same book geared towards children, I thought I would jump on the chance to review it. Then school and life got in the way and so now, finally, I present to you my review of this lovely book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are six "purposes" which outline the book. They are as follows, The Reason for Everything, Faith and Friendship with God, Your Part in God's Family, Becoming Like Christ, Serving God, Serving Others, and You Were Made for a Mission. There are 365 devotionals in the book, one for each day of the (non-leap) year. Each devotional starts with a Bible verse and then a practical lesson, or story by Pastor Warren followed by a prayer for that day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor Warren uses nine different Bible translations throughout the book, making sure that the most practical and relate-able version is listed for your child. The book is printed in very bright blue and green which is no doubt to be made appealing to the young eye that enjoys bright colors. My old eye would prefer a toned down color. The books is geared more towards pre-teen and teenagers than little ones, but would be a great tool in getting kids that age interested in Bible study and in a pattern that they will hopefully continue for the rest of their lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The book is published by the Zonderkidz division of Zondervan and is available for around $16.00</span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-80392637239340513082015-11-24T20:38:00.003-06:002015-11-24T20:39:30.654-06:00In January, I Shall Rest<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">It was
another busy weekend, as most are this time of year. Friday night we went to
the Madison Academy game and for the first time in three years, the Mustangs
lost in the playoffs. It was kind of expected and therefore not so devastating;
but, it was a good game. They had a good run, but alas, all good things must
come to and end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Saturday
morning I left my house at 8:00 a.m. to run errands and knock some things off
the to do list. I also had an ALANA meeting and this is where I shall pause to
tell you three readers about this organization because we are in desperate need
of some new faces so consider this my plea. ALANA is the Association of Ladies
for Agape of North Alabama. This group of (old) women support Agape in various
ways. They hold charity sales throughout the year to raise money and collect
dues of a whole $10 a year. With the money that is raised, the ladies help
support the foster children who are supported by Agape. They provide money for
such things as a spring (or Easter) outfit, a Thanksgiving turkey, they help
pay for the foster family retreat in the fall and also provide money for school
supplies. If other needs arise, they address those as they come up and try to
help the foster families out as much and as often as possible. I'm not sure how
many members there are in total, but there is a core group of about 20 or so
women and the average age is surely close to 75 (if you throw out me and my
friend Leah). The ladies meet about four times a year on Saturday mornings for
about an hour and food is provided at the meetings. Here is my plea - this
group is in desperate need of some new and younger faces! If you are interested
in getting involved in this great group, then please get in touch with me
either by emailing me or leaving a comment with your contact information in
this post. OK, that's it for the public service announcement for today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">After
the ALANA Meeting I had a little time to kill before picking up my produce
basket for the week. So, instead of going home for 30 minutes, I went by and
volunteered to sort baskets. There were actually a lot of volunteers that day
so the sorting went quickly and I was able to get my basket and head home. Once
home I changed clothes, sat down for about 15 minutes and then drove three
houses down the street to pick up my cousins Anna and Randy for a basketball
game. My cousin Tyler (Anna's brother) is the assistant coach at Shorter
University and they were playing in a tournament at UAH. So, a bunch of us went
to support him. The game was actually really good and we had a great time
cheering on the Hawks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">When
the game was over, we went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner and then I finally
headed home for the night. Anna, Randy, Tyler and Autumn went to see a movie;
but, since I had been home for all of 15 minutes that day I opted to go home
and stay home. It was a good thing to because I think I was asleep by 7:30
p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">It was
a busy, busy Saturday and I've got to tell you, I'm ready for a weekend of rest
which will no doubt happen in January, which will be here before we know
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-55252089144415943182015-11-21T17:38:00.001-06:002015-11-21T17:38:20.126-06:00A Night Out in Nashville<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I never found the post I lost. That is seriously one of life's great mysteries. So, I'll try to recreate it as best I can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, earlier this year when I wrote this post, I mentioned it was the last concert of 2015, but apparently I was a liar because as luck would have it, the concert gods had one more show in store for me. the Sunday after the Foo Fighters show, I was having dinner with my cousins and some friends of ours (Russell and Cindy) were over as well. Lauren and I were telling Russell about our Foo Fighter's experience and somehow it triggered him to tell us all about Tab Benoit and what a great show he puts on. Tab is from Louisiana and sings a Cajun/Zydeco type of music and Russell was pretty fired up when he was talking about the show he had been to. The next thing I knew, Russell was looking up the dates for upcoming shows and then we were all buying tickets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The show was last Tuesday and there ended up being 13 of us who went up to see it. The show was held at City Winery in downtown Nashville which is a very nice venue. I had never heard of it before buying my ticket to the show and was very impressed with the place. I rode up with my cousins Jan, Benny, Anna and Randy and because of rush hour and a couple of accidents, we arrived a little after 6:30. The seats are such that you are actually seated at a table and you can dine before the show, which is why we arrived early. I think everyone was happy with the meals they ordered. I had the steak which came with a cauliflower and mushroom puree and asparagus, all of which was delicious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The opening act, who's name I cannot remember to save my life, came on stage about 7:30 and played for 45 minutes or so. He was actually quite good and I enjoyed listening to him. Tab took the stage around 9:00 p.m. and seriously, the folks in the crowd went a little nuts. It was rather humorous. Tab can play the guitar like nobody's business and doesn't have a bad voice to boot. That particular night was hi birthday and I'm here to tell you the man was three sheets to the wind (or drunk for those of you who are not familiar with the expression). He ended up doing a whole lot more talking than singing and playing which basically amounted to us getting a stand-up show in conjunction with the concert. I couldn't tell you the last time I laughed that hard. I don't know if he always talks that much, but he sure talked that night and it was hilarious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The stand-up show/concert ended around 11:00 p.m. at which point we discovered that one of the couples who came with us paid for everyone's meals, which was an incredibly nice gesture and took everyone by surprise. We collected the truck from valet parking and then headed back south. Most of us stayed awake for about 45 minutes of the drive before nodding off to sleep. Big thanks to my cousin Benny for driving all us sleepyheads home through the night. It was a very fun night and a great way to end the 2015 concert season! </span></div>
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nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-42490116567147358752015-11-19T20:45:00.002-06:002015-11-19T20:45:40.371-06:00The Lost PostWell, I wrote a post earlier today and now I can't find it. I don't know if I deleted it or what, but at any rate, it has vanished. Such is life sometimes. So, I'll just say, have a good weekend everyone and maybe next week I can pull it together and not lose the posts I've written.nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-40999619366810810392015-11-18T21:01:00.001-06:002015-11-18T21:01:13.278-06:00Galaxy of LightsIt's hard to believe it, but Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas is just around the corner. I've finally managed to knock a dent in my Christmas list. Thank goodness.<br />
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Typically, I don't do anything Christmas related until after Thanksgiving, but this past Sunday night I made an exception. My cousins and I and a couple of friends went to the Galaxy of Lights at the Botanical Garden for one of the walking nights. Every year I say I'm going to go on a walking night and never end up making it. They have a couple of nights were dogs are welcome - maybe one year I'll be brave and take Pippa to enjoy the holiday spirit. I've participated in the Fun Run the last couple of years and have enjoyed it so much. Walking the Galaxy of Lights is so much better than driving. You definitely get a better perspective and are able to take it all in so much more I think.<br />
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The gates opened at 5:30 p.m. and I think we all got there around 6:00 or 6:15. Since I'm a member, I got a ticket for a free hot chocolate and a cookie, but I gave it to my cousin Anna because she had mentioned hoping there was some hot chocolate and she's pregnant. So, we'll be treating her with special care for the next few months, starting with hot chocolate.<br />
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We had a great time walking, talking about baby names from A to Z and other things and just enjoying each other's company. The night was cold, but not freezing and so it was perfect for a night walk to enjoy the lights and sounds of the season.<br />
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I'll be doing the Fun Run again this year on December 1, but there are a few more walking nights before then. This Friday, November 20 thru Monday, November 23 are the last walking nights. November 23 is a dog night so if you're not a dog fan, I wouldn't recommend going that night. After these last few walking nights, the driving nights start.<br />
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Galaxy of Lights is so fun and festive and has become one of my favorite activities of the Christmas season. Check it out if you have a chance!nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-89360343182279228352015-11-16T18:46:00.001-06:002015-11-16T18:48:42.302-06:00Here's What's Been Happening<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello and thanks for stopping by. We are halfway through the month of November and I've only posted three times (including this post). Now that my final is over (still waiting on my grade) I hope to have a little more time to spend on writing about the mundane happenings of my life. I'm sure you're thrilled. Let's start with this past weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Friday night I had plans to go to the MA football game with my dad and on Thursday night I got a call from someone offering me tickets to a play for the same night. I turned down the play tickets since football was already planned. Then, on Friday, my dad sent a text saying he was sick and wouldn't be able to make it to the game which left me with nothing to do because I wasn't going to go to a football game by myself. Normally having nothing to do wouldn't be that big of a deal; in fact, it often is a welcome change. However, since I had been at home every night that week studying, I was itching to get out of the house. So, I called back the friend who had offered the play tickets, but the tickets were, as I suspected, already taken. Then, I thought about going to a movie because I haven't been to see a movie in months and there are quite a few out and more coming that I want to see right now. So, I text my cousin Jan to see if she wanted to go, but she was planning to decorate her Christmas tree that night so she invited me over to decorate it with her and I accepted because like I said, I just needed to get out of the house after a week at home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, after work, I had an appointment and then I ate some dinner and watched the news about the terrible attacks on Paris, and then I headed over to Jan's. We spent the next three hours or so decorating and talking and watching episodes of Homeland from this season which she recorded for me on her DVR. For the record, I like to watch Homeland without any interruption or disruption, so I really don't know what is going on as well as I would if I was watching it at home by myself, but hey, I'm getting to see the season as it's taking place and I can go back and catch the little details next September when the season is released on Blu-Ray. For now, I'm just grateful I don't have to wait a year to find out what's going on in the world of crazy Carrie Mathison. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saturday was a day of running here there and yonder, or at least the morning was. I started the morning by going to Sam's Club as they were having a pre-black Friday sale and had a lot of really good deals. I have been tossing around the idea of getting a new phone for a few months now. The one I have is about two-years old and has been hit with the two-year curse. It's on the fritz from time to time and when I was at the Botanical Garden a few weeks ago, I had 80% battery and while I was taking photos, the phone just died and shut off. So, needless to say, a new phone is on my agenda. However, paying $200 for a new phone isn't what I want to do right now. So, I had seen that this mega-sale at Sam's had a Samsung Galaxy S6 for 96 cents if you renew your contract for two years. Well, I've been with Sprint for 10 years or more and don't plan on changing. So, yes, I'm okay with renewing for another two years if it saves me $199.04 on a new phone. Now, ever since I've had a smart phone, I've had a HTC, so changing brands makes me a little nervous, but everyone who has the Galaxy really seems to like it so hopefully it will work out for me as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sam's opened at 7:00 a.m. for the mega-sale and I pulled into the parking lot about five minutes til and y'all, I totally underestimated how many people would be there. I am not kidding when I say they were lined up all the way down the side of the building. I wasn't even sure I would make it in to get a phone there were so many people there. I got in line and the poor man behind me had no idea what was going on and asked me why there were so many people there; apparently he must be a business club member and has access to the early hours. I made it into the store a few minutes after 7:00 (they were only letting a few people in at a time) and got into the phone line. I didn't have much time to wait because I had a hair appointment at 8:00 and the line seemed to be crawling at a snail's pace. When I was about five people from the front, I sent a text to my hairdresser and told him I was going to be a few minutes late. The salon is close to Sam's and there was no way I was giving up my spot in line when I was so close. He said it was no problem and not to rush. I made it to the front, and got my slip to get my phone. They were providing people with reservations and making appointments for activation later that day or within the next three days. So, on Monday evening, I'll stop by Sam's and pick up my phone and get it activated. I'm hoping they can switch over contacts, as well so I don't have to make an extra stop by the Sprint store later this week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After I got my phone reservation, I went to the salon. As luck would have it, the 8:30 appointment showed up at 8:00 so Jeff was able to just switch us out which worked for everyone. I'm pretty sire that will never happen again. After my haircut, I stopped by Wal-Mart and Publix to knock out the weekly grocery shopping and then drove out to the YMCA in Madison to meet my friend Lauren for Zumba. I finally made it home for the day around 12:30 where I plopped on the couch and watched football for the rest of the day. </span></div>
<br />nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277168889040791618.post-35028019198087727872015-11-09T17:52:00.001-06:002015-11-09T17:52:13.925-06:00The Last Stretch of the Semester<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello party people! I've been scarce the last few days and it's likely to be the case this week as well. I've been busy as a bee but with nothing very exciting to report. I've mostly been busy with school work. In fact, I had to miss the first round of the high school football playoffs last week because of school. The game was moved from Friday to Thursday because of forecasted thunderstorms on Friday and I had a live class session that night. Thankfully MA won without me having to be there to pull them through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm finished with me mini-class, but have my final in my other class this week and so, I've been studying and reading and studying and reading and I don't know if there's much more room left in my brain for information. My final is on Thursday of this week and I've cleared my evenings from all the fun things I had planned in order to read and re-read and re-read again. I've got an A in the class right now and I really don't want to lose it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After my final this week, I have two more chapter quizzes (the final oddly enough doesn't include the last two chapters) and then I have my group project yet to go which I'm certain will be a disaster. My group doesn't seem to work too well together based on last week's exercise. So, fingers crossed we will work out the kinks and get our project turned in on time and then, praise the Lord, I'll be done until January. I registered for classes last week and am taking seven hours next semester - two regular classes and one mini-class. Since I usually don't have too much going on in the winter months, I'm hoping it won't be too overwhelming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other news, Christmas is right around the corner and I've done very little shopping which is extremely unusual as I am typically finished with all manner of Christmas shopping by now. For one, I have no idea what to get my mother; so, mother, if you're reading this a list would be nice. Mother is the hardest to buy for because, unfortunately, she doesn't do anything or have any hobbies because of her illness. I've gotten her one thing so far and that's it. So, mother, send a list! I've bought a few things for my dad, but most of the items on his list are things that could possibly be on sale Black Friday. So, I want to read the sale papers and see what I can find before making any purchases. Then there's Justin and I have no idea what he wants so I have yet to buy him anything. We drew names for Parker Christmas, but now some people are not coming and others cannot remember who's name they drew and so I have a feeling there might be some rearranging of the names and so I don't want to buy anything just yet in case I have to redraw. I have purchases my gift for the favorite things brunch this year and really, that's about it. I really need to step up my game. Thankfully, there's Amazon for all the things I need to order but don't want to leave my house for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As for me, the one thing I want this year is for my favorite chair of all-time to be re-upholstered, but I haven't heard back from Santa on the decision. I did go by the fabric store this weekend and picked up some samples and wrote down pricing, etc. I've got so many samples to chose from I don't know how I'll ever decide, that is if I get to decide. The re-upholstering is rather expensive so I'm waiting to see what Santa's offer is. At any rate, it may take a while for me to determine which fabric choice to go with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I guess that's it for this rainy Monday. I don't know about you. but I'm tired of rainy Mondays. Here's to hoping the rest of the week is crisp, cool, and sunny!</span></div>
nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02662330603749031513noreply@blogger.com2