Masks

Tomorrow is the day.  Kids have thought about about it, parents have dreaded it, the sugar industry lives for it and dentists sometimes benefit from it.

HALLOWEEN

As a child, I was "sheltered" as some of my friends call it when it came to Halloween.  My brother and sisters and I were only allowed to go to certain houses, our parents had to inspect our candy before we could ever eat it and our costumes had to be modest and age appropriate (I wanted to be Jasmine from Aladdin so badly, but to no avail due to her midriff-bearing attire).  Then there was my mother's strictest rule- no masks. 

I never quite understood why she had all the rules, but she's a nurse and had seen her fair share of Halloween plans gone awry.  There are the stomachaches caused by bad candy, not to mention the effects a sugar overdoes can have on a 7-year-old's nervous system.  Then there's the allergic reaction you can have with face paints and the safety issues that come with walking around town at dusk. 

And masks.  Those masks.  Momma always said I couldn't wear them because I had asthma, which seemed to make sense at that point in time.  But then there's also the germ factor.  If you think about it, that mask will sit in the store for a period of time before it finds its way into your shopping cart.  How many people have put that mask on?  How many of them had runny noses?  Head lice?  Stinky breath? 

And that is my final conclusion as to why my mother wouldn't allow us to wear masks: she was shielding us from the horrors that come with spending a few hours behind a stink, stinky mask.

So tomorrow when you trick-or treat, if you wear a mask, I hope you remember to take along the Listerine.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

A Little Bit Crazy

Do you ever have a day where things are so bogged down you're running around like a chicken with your head cut off?

That's today.

It's insane at work.

It's insane at home.

And it's insane downtown with the bustle of morning traffic.

So, with all the insanity, I should probably get back to the bottomless pit of papers on my desk, the 43 unopened emails in my inbox and the 3 voicemails I have yet to give the time of day for the simple fact that I'm too overwhelmed to hit the right button on my phone.

Or maybe I'll just throw away all the papers, delete the emails and nix the voicemails.  But if I did that, people would think I died.

With that said, please bury me barefoot.

Fall

One word, many meanings. 



Its can mean to descend under the influence of gravity.  Like falling up stairs.  Yes, it's possible (I do it daily).

To suffer defeat or failure.  Like Goliath.  One stone brought him way down.

The feeling of romantic love.  Oh, to fall in love.  There really isn't another feeling like it.

But right now, it means this:

And this....

And then more of this....

Gotta love Autumn.

Facts

Election day is a week away.

Candidates rally and tell everyone what they "stand" for, but just as soon as the words come out, their opponent shoots back, questioning everything from their voting record to their college experiences.

Who knows what to believe?

I tell ya what, it can be downright tricky to find out the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth this time of year.  But, I pride myself on telling it like it is.  Saying not what I think, but what is for sure 100% truth.  Here are a few.

1. I live in a small town.  Population 3,494.  But I think that's over-shooting it.  Maybe they included the cows?

2. The middle initial "S" in Harry Truman's name didn't stand for anything.  It comes from his parents trying to please both grandfathers, each of whom had a name that began with the letter.  Seriously, look it up.

3. That song I told you about over a month ago is number 10 on this week's Billboard country singles chart.  That CD is in my truck right now and for some reason I keep replaying track 11.

4. I managed to snap a photo of my best good friend and I over the weekend.  If I can get his permission I might post it later.  So here's my bouquet instead.

5. Mayberry is under a severe thunderstorm watch today.  I heard a rumble of thunder and thought my ears were playing tricks on me.  Rain was actually falling from the sky this morning and it was AMAZING!

6. I want one of these for Christmas.

7. The United States has consumed sweet tea since the 1800s, but it was green tea instead of black.  It wasn't until World War II that the US began using black tea for this tasty refreshment.

8. The first text message was sent in 1992 and said "Merry Christmas."  My last text was a second ago:

That's a smiley face.


9. Polar bears have one million hairs on every square inch of their body.  That's fifty times as much as humans.

And finally...

10. My neck of the woods is gorgeous this time of year.

Ok, that last one might be subjective.

Wedding Weekend

This weekend was spent in wedding mode.

One of my best friends from college was tying the knot and I had the privilege of standing up with her at the altar, along with a couple of her other friends.  So Friday after work I made the two hour journey down to the city of my Alma mater and smiled when she and her betrothed said those words which would seal the deal and bring them together as one until the day they die.

It was a beautiful wedding, but more importantly, she was a BEAUTIFUL bride!!

Photo By Bethany Pitz Photography

Wow!  I couldn't take my eyes off of her.  And neither could anyone else.

The wedding went off without a hitch and everyone gathered after at the reception hall and enjoyed food and music with friends, new and old. There was dancing, eating, cake cutting, more dancing ("I was born to boogie" - name that song), bouquet and garter tosses, mingling with new people, hearing complements on the bridesmaids dresses, the flowers, the weather (which was marvelous!), and then there was that one wedding guest who made everyone feel a little uncomfortable.

Ok, so there wasn't a wedding guest like that, although most weddings do have one or two.

But the point I'm trying got make is that the entire weekend was more than anyone could ask.  But, most importantly, two people began their lives together and I was lucky enough to see firsthand the power of love.

 

Here's to my friends.  

May the Lord bless you with many, many years of happiness.

And a couple of kids, or five. 

Text Messages

"Good Morning" text messages make my day.  They really, really do.  There's just something about knowing that someone wants to let you know they're thinking about you the first thing in the morning.  It's like they woke up and you were one of the first things on their mind.

Now don't get me wrong, I'd rather speak face to face or on the phone before text, but you can't always do that.  Maybe the person might still be asleep, or in the shower or already at work when the sender wants to relay the message.

Let me tell ya, I've never met a chick that didn't like a guy who was sweet enough to tell her sweet little things with his thumbs through a text message.  As long as he is the object of her affection, it doesn't matter what he says first thing in the morning.  He can say anything from a  simple "Good morning honey" to something more eloquent like "I hope you rested well and have a day as wonderful as you are."  Or perhaps he can countdown the time until he sees her again.  "11 and a half hours!! :)"  Then again, maybe it's  a cute little inside joke that he knew would make her laugh.

Whatever he sends, she's sure to smile for at least 37 minutes.

Here are a few of my favorite that I've had the pleasure of being on the receiving:

Short, sweet, to the point.

A little bit sweeter.  Did he really just call me "baby doll?"  I'm starting to melt.

 

This guy was on the phone with me until after midnight the night before and sent this just six hours later as he was headed to work.  I think it's thoughtful. 

This other guy professed feelings!  And he acknowledged that he knew I was busy, but he still wanted to talk to me.  This goes above and beyond good morning texts.  I definitely smiled for more than 37 minutes over that one.

Sore.

I knew this would happen.

It was inevitable.  Predicted.  Expected.

Last night I figured that I wouldn't be able to move much today.  And I was right.

So why for the uncomfortable ache?

We got new office furniture at work and last night four of us were acting as movers.  I should have snapped pictures of the process, but my hands were kind of busy holding doors, carrying desks, scraping my hands, backing up a trailer and squashing my fingers.  You get the idea.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I better get along with my story.

My previous "desk" was about a foot and a half deep and maybe three feet wide.  Maybe.  There were no drawers, but there was a door and shelf that I couldn't use, so it might as well be called a table since it never served in any storage capacity.  And that "desk" was wobbly.  Oh boy was it wobbly. People still say "wobbly," right?  Good.

Anyway, This desk wasn't the most efficient thing in the world.  By the time I had my laptop on it and whatever papers I'd need, the desk surface was covered.  And the phone I answer wouldn't fit on it either, talk about annoying.  However, after a while, I became used to these working conditions.  They became the topic of jokes among my family and friends: "So, I was gonna get you a picture frame for your desk at work, then I realized I'd need to buy you a new desk just to use it."  "Are you going to decorate your desk for the 4th of July?  Oh, I forgot... If you put a little flag on there, you'd have to put your laptop on the floor."

See, my family is the best.

But now, I have a much bigger desk.  The new desk has room for a picture frame or two, a little flag and even 10 paper trays if I really wanted them, which I don't.  It's nice and sturdy - I haven't found a wobble yet.  There are five wonderfully handy drawers, and even a shelf down below that I'm doubling as a foot stool.  Short legs finally come in handy for me.

Next up is a picture frame.  I have no idea which one to use, either.  Should I use that gorgeous tree, my grandparents, the dog, my parents, or farm machinery?

Decisions, decisions.

Not just for boys

Have I ever told you that I like trucks?
 
I can't really recall if I had or not, but I felt the need today to share that tidbit of information.  One thing that I always laugh about when it comes to these trucks are about the guys who drive 'em.  When I see a truck, especially one I like, I think of what kind of guy sits in the drivers seat.

This came to my mind this morning as I was flipping through pictures on my computer from a family vacation earlier this year.  On our last day, actually as we were leaving, I saw this truck and immediately screamed at my sister to stop the car.

Oh, this truck.

It spoke to me. Loudly.

Well, it wasn't running so it really didn't speak to me but you get the idea, right?

Then I imagined the guy who drives it.  He's probably the life of the party with an on-again-off-again girlfriend who's about 5 feet tall and really shy.  He works two jobs, loves his momma and spends his free time in his garage.  Or not.  I really don't know.


After that photo striking my fancy this morning, I googled "pickup truck" and this is what I got:

 

This one most likely would belong to a contractor.  Sorry, but the utility racks give it away.

I would say that this truck belongs to a new driver since it's a little older, but it's so clean and doesn't really have any body damage.  Now I'm changing my answer to a late-20s guy.  No kids, 8-5 job , hunts and fishes on the weekends. 

What the...?  I don't understand why you would want a truck lowered.  It just doesn't make sense to me.   But I also live where there are hills and gravel roads.  Plus my sister's car scrapes the driveway every time she pulls out of it.  Trucks are supposed to be lifted, not lowered.  Anywho, this guy is a skinny rocker with earrings and tattoos running the length of his arm.

Male. 45 years old.  Restored the glory that was his dad's truck.  But that's just a theory.  

Good ole country boy.  Early twenties.  Avid hunter.  But that's just a guess.  This one reminds me of one of my friend's trucks.  He's cool so I figure this guy is, too.

Based on the custom wheels and leveling kit, I'd say it belongs to a 35 year old male, married with 2 kids.  C'mon, you knew he was married, he's got nerf bars.

Thirties.  Not married.  Trying to compensate for something.  Don't go there.

This one is a two wheel drive.  It actually reminds me of one my dad used to have.  I'd say this guy is a no-nonsense 60-somethings with a few grand kids.  He doesn't need a truck for the mud and muck, he just likes 'em.  

And I realize one of these trucks might belong to a female.  After all, I drive a truck.  But in the "ideal" world, boys drive trucks and girls drive cars.  That world is weird.  I look funny in a car.   

With that said, here's a truck I'd love to have:

Wonder what this says about me?

Who said trucks are just for boys, anyway?

Hoarse

That's to be expected, I suppose.  Last night's concert was great and Jason Aldean raised $132,000 for the Susan G Komen Foundation.

Luke Bryan was there opening up the show.  He was very energizing and got the mood going for what proved to be a great concert.

Then it happened....

He took the stage.  To say I was happy to be in the city that night was an understatement.  I continued to scream for the next hour and a half.

And then Mrs. Jason Aldean (aka, Jessica) announced how much money was raised for the Susan G Komen Foundation.  Great night on so many levels!

Now please excuse me while I go window shop for a better camera and try to find my voice.  If you hear it, could you send it my way?

Happy Friday!

I'm very excited today.   Even more excited than I am on most Fridays.  Why?

http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/Jason%20Aldean.jpg

Jason Aldean (one of my favorite country artists) is coming to a nearby city tonight.  I'm trying to contain myself.

No, seriously.  This is me. Contained.

Ok maybe I'm not cool, calm and collected.  I'm flat out HYPE about it!  I can tell I'll bounce off the walls at work today.

Must. Calm.  Down.

And one cool thing about the concert is that all proceeds from it go to the Susan G Komen Foundation.

You see, Jason, like many of us, has been personally affected by breast cancer, losing a friend to this dreadful disease when she was just 29.  This concert will be sure to be an emotional one. 

I've said it before...

... but I'll say it again:  I LOVE THE RAIN!

The summer here in Mayberry was dry.  Very dry.  I considered going into the cactus business and buying a sombrero.

Ok, so in all seriousness we're 8 inches below the normal amount of rainfall for the year.  It's affecting the crops they're harvesting, the grass in my yard and the color the leaves will turn in the next few weeks.  We've been under a burn ban for a couple weeks now to keep the whole place from going up in smoke and the fire department has been busy.

That's why the entire area rejoiced on Tuesday when we saw this:

Look at those clouds!  Their movement, their color, the adrenaline rush they give me as they dance across the sky.  Sadly, clouds like these have passed through the area lately without anything registering on the rain gauge, as it all went to our north.

So, when I first heard the thunder rumble, I was puzzled.  What was this strange and unusual sound?  Then I stepped outside and a strange substance hit my face.  It was.... wet?  What in the world?

Could it be?? RAIN?!

Omigoodness!

I danced for a little bit.

What do we have here?

After a few minutes of moderate rainfall, the clouds started parting to the west and the golden sunset came into view.

Yes, we finally got rain.  Sweet precipitation fell from the sky, bringing with it a renewed hope and a many smiles.  Keep in mind, the ten minute shower we got  wasn't enough to catch up on a summer of less than adequate rainfall, but it was still much appreciated.

Best Good Friend

There's an apple pie baking in my oven right now.  That has nothing to do with anything, I was just making a mental note so I don't forget about it while writing this.

Back to my story....

Earlier today I was talking to my best good friend about random things like crop sprayers, apples, Mexican restaurants and red lights.  (Hey, I didn't say we were normal.)  We joked and laughed for a bit about people in Mayberry, a couple of our friends who are tying the knot soon and about the previously mentioned apple pie currently in my oven.

One thing you should know about my BGF is that he isn't from Mayberry.  As a matter of fact, he's from a town about 16 times larger than my hometown, and no, I'm not exaggerating. To be honest, I called him a "City Boy" just yesterday and he got offended.  The town he lives in, unlike Mayberry, has "more than one fast food restaurant and seven red lights."  Then he called me a Yankee.  Go figure.

In all fairness, Mayberry has 5 chain restaurants, including four that I would consider "fast food."  And the city he lives in has TWO movie theaters!  TWO!  To watch a movie in Mayberry you either have to cross a state line either to the North or West, or cross two county lines to the Southeast.  Either way, you have to travel at least an hour to get your fix of theater popcorn and a box of Reese Pieces in stadium seated comfort.  Needless to say, I don't make it to the movies much.  However, there is talk of a cinema being built in a neighboring county to the north, which would only make for a 35 minute trip one way.  Oh, the endless possibilites!

So, back to my BGF.  He's a funny guy.  Hilarious, even. Well, except for when he is making fun of Mayberry and the sometimes backward ways of this town.  Not to give him a big head, but I kinda can't help but laugh and have a good time whenever I'm with him no matter what we seem to be doing.  His personality is infectious and addicting, just like double chocolate cake, except being around him doesn't give me the urge to chug a gallon of milk.

And no, he's really not a city boy.  In fact, he might be a little bit country.  Sure, he hits golf balls into the river, but then he puts on boots and plays in the mud in jacked up trucks.  He doesn't play around on tractors at the farm, but he can drive a stick shift and sing along to Mickey Gilley with the best of em.  But I still worry about him and his lack of enthusiasm for football.  I just can't wrap my head around that one.  For such a rugged and manly kind of guy he just doesn't like football. Strange.

So here's to my BGF.  For always making me laugh, for always answering the phone, and for always being just plain cool.  Oh, and for beating up guys who deserve it.

I'm just kidding on that last one.  Well, unless the opportunity ever arises.

As promised

Scenes from this year's parade through Mayberry.  Better late than never, right?

 

People begin to line the street at least an hour before the parade begins.  Lawn chairs are a necessity and the main intersection in town gets closed to all traffic.

To get it kicked off, the police make their way down Main Street.   I promise they're not looking for me.  And if they are, I was with you on Tuesday night from 9 until 11, ok?

Just kiddin'!  I have to keep you on your toes.

Here's one of the area priests in his fully restored '63 Impala hardtop.

Commandment # 10 says I'm not supposed to covet this.  The fact that it isn't a '64 Super Sport Convertible makes it easier.

And here's the football team!  They stopped right in front of the courthouse to stand up and sing the school song.  They're good kids like that.

But sadly, this is where my camera died and wouldn't come back to life.  It's been temperamental like that lately.  So that means no pictures of tractors and none of the delicious lemon shake up I drank during the parade, either. 

There's always next year.

10-10-10

A lot of people have made a big deal about today's date.

But to me, it's Sunday.  The Sabbath.  The one say a week that moves a little bit slower than the rest, but I'm perfectly ok with that.

"This is the day that The Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Hope you do the same.

Things I should be doing

This morning when I stepped outside I realized something.

It was 45 degrees in Mayberry this morning!

Ya know what that means?  Well, besides the fact that I had to turn on my heated seat on my way to work, it means that fall is rolling in.

Sure, the high today is supposed to get up to 88 degrees, but these morning lows are an absolutely wonderful preview of what's to come in the next couple of months.

Weather like this makes me think of a few things:

1.  Football season is in full swing. My camera needs charged for tonight's game.
2.  I have to close the swimming pool before the lows dip to below freezing.
3.  It's almost deer season so my gun needs sighted in.
4.  The yard needs fertilizer ASAP.  I love nitrogen!
5.  With all that stuff to do what on earth am I doing on the computer?

With that said, I'm going to go get something accomplished now.

 

Or maybe I'll just dream of the view from my deer stand in sweet anticipation of November.

Thought for the Day

This morning I woke with this picture in my head.

 

This is the Angel Oak.

Actually, it's a live oak tree.  The trunk measures 25 feet in circumference so you can imagine how huge it is.

I managed to snap this picture on a family vacation earlier this year and since then, I look at it when I just need a break.

While you may not be able to tell, it's estimated to be one of the oldest things East of the Mississippi River.  If you're ever in South Carolina, go to Johns Island and check it out!

And it's huge.  And Massive.  And breathtaking. 

Just soak that up for a second.

Here's the Deal...

This is my kitchen this morning.

Today is my boss's birthday, so in preparation for the blessed event, I baked last night.

Now this is nothing new or out of the ordinary when I bake, but I last night I was quite busy since I decided to not just make a birthday cake, but rather 3 different batches of chocolatey goodness.

There were red velvet cupcakes.

Delicious chocolate cake.

And last but not least, Oreo balls.

Ok, so I only snagged a picture of one Oreo ball because I couldn't take one quick enough of all of them.  They're good and they go fast.  And they're delicious and sinfully rich.

This is why I love celebrating people's birthdays.