Schoolteacher. Daughter. Sister. Granddaughter. Friend. Proud Alabamian & Auburn grad. Highly amateur cook, crafter, & photographer. Lover of learning. Fan of long walks & old houses. My goal: a life well-lived. Blessed beyond measure. Thankful for each & every moment in each and every day.
Okay, so it's not Thanksgiving anymore. Close enough!
Today I am thankful for...
the grace and patience and forgiveness of the good Lord
my family, friends, and my dear Doc
my health, and the health of my loved ones...I hope I never take that for granted
a lovely Thanksgiving spent with the people I love
turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce
the fact that my loved ones still love me in spite of the obscene quantities of turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce I took down yesterday
a fun little date night this evening
reminders to focus on the positive and be optimistic
the fact that (although to my disappointment) things don't always go like I want them to...the good Lord is much better at planning than I am
reminders this week to be selfless and put others before myself
my Mama's wisdom, and that she always chooses to share it just when I need it
getting to visit with Daddy on his lunch break today...we're like the 2 Musketeers
all that's happening right now for my Bubba...a finished preceptorship (yay!), graduation right around the corner, and a job already lined up...God is so good!
the fact that anybody wants to read the drivel I put on my long-neglected little blog
a break from work to recharge my batteries a bit
a sweet, out-of-the-blue card in the mail this week...finding something fun in my mailbox makes me geekily excited
the opportunity to travel to God's country (aka, Auburn) for the Iron Bowl this weekend
laughter
shoes on my feet, food in my fridge, clothes in my closet, a roof over my head, clean running water, a car, and a little bit of money left in my bank account at the end of the month
my job, my coworkers, and the fun little people I spend my days with
the ridiculously comfortable new bed in my room at my parents' house...I had a hard time dragging myself away from it today
the mind-boggling amount of love and patience the good Lord has when dealing with me...amazing
my family, friends, and my sweet Doc
my health, and the health of my loved ones...don't ever take it for granted, folks!
a two-day work week coming up
a fantastically beautiful sunset this evening
the really, really good news (of the job offer variety) my sweet, soon-to-be-a-graduate brother called to share with me tonight...what a blessing!
Thanksgiving right around the corner...one of my favorites!
Thanksgiving lunch at school today...I literally look forward to it all year and it didn't disappoint!
a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet, a car that runs, food in my fridge, clean running water, enough money to cover my needs and take care of a few "wants" every now and then
employment, the people I work with, and the students I get to spend time with
the new student joining our class tomorrow...I'm nervous and excited...hope that I'll be a blessing to him this year
a two-day work week coming up
the urge to make a "Thankful Thursday" list after being a total slacker lately
a chance to celebrate our precious counselor Toni at her retirement party today...I am truly a better person for knowing her and so admire her...she's made more of a difference than she'll ever know, and I wish her the best of luck in her new adventure!
lots of things in life to look forward to
a reminder this week that contentment is a conscious choice (not a feeling), and something that you have to work at every day...so freeing when you realize that
a two-day work week coming up
some cooler weather after oddly warm, humid weather all week
our great state making it through our first "tornado weather" since April...seeing that radar yesterday put me on edge a bit
learning something new today: horses can't vomit...seriously, they can't...look it up
the opportunity to bring such random, mostly useless knowledge (such as the above) to the world...you're welcome
a fun holiday season coming up
some really great conversations and lessons with my students this week about Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving...I adore 5th grade social studies
my job, the people I work with, and my feisty little 5th graders
a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, food in my fridge, clean running water, electricity, a car that runs, and a comfy place to lay my head at night
a wide-open weekend...the most wonderful kind!
gloriously beautiful fall weather...definitely my most favorite season
getting to turn off the AC and open the windows up wide
a nice, long walk this afternoon...I was really happy to get some "me" time in
legs that are strong enough to carry me through whatever I want to do
getting to carve a pumpkin last night...thanks for making my Halloween dreams come true, bud!
the chance to (hopefully) get a good night's sleep tonight
thus-far healthy, happy pregnancies for some sweet friends of mine
Kate getting to make a return trip to Charleston...this time as a professional (!) going to speak at a conference (!!) So proud of you, dear friend :)
my simple little life
this song, which I listened to no fewer than 4 times on my walk earlier today...love
HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!
PS---The people on the news have been reminding me all day that it's been exactly 6 months since those hideous tornadoes chewed their way through our beautiful state of Alabama. I still don't like to think about that day, and I still have a hard time reading this post and the ones I posted after it. I'm still very thankful, however, that all of my sweet family members in Tuscaloosa were fine. Such a blessing.
I spend some time every year on September 11th talking with my students about the events of that day. They usually want to know where I was and what I remember, so I share that story with them. In the past, students have wanted to share what they remember about that day. Today, as I had my September 11th sit-down with them, I heard the following comments:
"I remember seeing all that on TV. [Yeah right, says the teacher.] My mom was feeding me in my highchair."
"My dad told me I started crawling that day."
"I wasn't even born for 3 more days!"
I used to be so good about doing this every Thursday. Eh, better late than never.
Today I am thankful for:
the grace of the good Lord
my family and friends
the health of my family and friends
my own health, although I've now completely lost my voice, am coughing my guts up, and am pretty grumpy that I paid the doctor $30 and got two shots to feel...worse
my job, and the students I have the opportunity to impact...I pray every day that I'll impact them in a positive way
the people I work with
getting to have some really good conversations with some really good friends this week
the news that several sweet girls in my life have babies on the way...God is good!
the microphone my principal brought me so that I could still teach even though I've lost my voice...I looked a lot like this, minus the hat and guitar (try not to be jealous):
a chance to recoup, rest, clean, and maybe even sew this weekend
making myself stay late after school yesterday so I could finish up my lesson plans...I don't like to stay late on Fridays, but I really don't like to work over the weekend or come in at sunrise on Mondays
feeling like I'm finally getting into my routine and feeling a little more "normal"...relatively speaking, of course :)
I'm back. Been gone a while. I've been very busy and very "blah" at the same time. Does that even make sense? School has started and life is jam-packed, but I've been spending significantly less time on the computer, and thus have neglected the ol' blog. I haven't even read anybody else's blogs. Just. Not. Feelin' it. I've gotten a few emails and facebook messages asking where I've been, so those made me smile. Thanks so much, yall! I'll try to get back in the swing of things.
*I really like my new class. Very feisty, and very smart. This should be a fun year.
*I've got sinus troubles, which is (sadly) nothing new. Breathing is pretty fun, and I miss it. I'm rapidly losing my voice. Should make for an interesting day tomorrow.
*I've missed my blog buds. It may take me a while, but I'll get caught up again.
*I just want to sew and sleep this weekend. I hope I can make that happen.
*It's really, really bad hot here. I know we'll see 90s until October, but I'm so over it. Recess on a sunny playground at 1:00 is hellish.
*It's very dry here. I miss the rain. Maybe we'll have some again someday.
*Remember that time when payday seemed to get farther and farther away instead of closer? Yeah, I do.
*Yesterday was a day where the bad news just kept coming. If you're a praying person, I know some people who would really appreciate those prayers. As my wise friend Julie Conway Evans said...I know bad things existed when we were kids, but we were sheltered from them and life was easy. This grownup thing takes some getting used to. (Oh, and I'd put a link to Julie's blog here...but she doesn't have one. Shall we get on that, darling JCE??? Kidding! Kind of.)
*My fab cousin Jerry stopped to eat supper with us Sunday night on his way back to Atlanta. It was a small group, but a good one. Love my family, and love visiting with Jerry. Doesn't happen nearly often enough. Daddy made his world-famous enchiladas, which is always a good thing.
*I took my very last leftover enchilada for lunch today. I carried it on a glass plate. I took it out of the microwave. I immediately dropped it on the floor, watched the plate shatter, heard the screams of children, and saw my tasty enchilada ooze onto the floor. It was a sad moment. A billion thanks to Mrs. Brenda who made me get a school lunch so I wouldn't go hungry. At least it wasn't fish nugget day.
*Mimi, her friend Mrs. Linda, and I went and saw "The Help" on Saturday. From seeing the previews, I was expecting it to be wildly different from the book, and it wasn't. Overall, I loved it. Really, really great story. They took me to Waffle House afterward for lunch. The three of us have had some adventures together, and I'm glad to add our outing Saturday to the list.
*I'm hoping I'll be a better blog friend soon. Thank yall for loving me anyway.
I haven't felt very "bloggy" these days, so if any of you are still with me, I apologize. I've had plenty to blog about, but I just haven't gotten around to sharing it. I will, hopefully someday soon. Life's just gotten a smidge busy lately.
1. I turned another year older. My family and friends really helped make my big day precious, and I love them for it. I'll share more about the commemoration of the day of my birth (fancier than "birthday") later. It was a good, good day.
2. Shark Week...always a highlight in my summer.
3. Work started back up. Meet the Teacher is tomorrow, and school starts Thursday. I'm excited to welcome a brand new batch of schoolbabies!
4. The movie based on "The Help" comes out Wednesday. I'm pumped to see it, but the previews almost make it look like a comedy. The book certainly was not. I just hope they stay true to the book and haven't made the movie too "cutesy".
5. I've spent somewhere around $378,211.59 on supplies to get my classroom ready and prepare for the new schoolyear. I always forget what an expensive month August is.
6. I went to renew my car tag last week. I live in a county that is trying desperately to avoid filing for bankruptcy, so all the satellite DMV offices have been closed in an effort to save money. One location for everybody...inefficient to the max. It was unpleasant, to say the least. I am, however, thankful to have the money to buy my new sticker and for a safe, reliable car on which to put a tag. I am blessed.
{I took this when I was only about halfway in the line. Excuse the hideous gray bar that cuts off 1/3 of the picture. I'm still trying to figure out my new phone.}
7. This sweet girl came to the big city, and we got to enjoy lunch together. I had so much fun getting to know her better. We should definitely do this again, and Lauren, let's make it lunch for three next time!
8. Tomorrow promises to be a really, reeeaaallly long day, so I'm going treat myself at Starbucks in the morning. My favorite: Iced Passion Tea (unsweetened). If you've never tried it, you need to find the nearest Starbucks location and take care of that ASAP. Report back.
9. The Bachelor Pad started tonight, and I've been pretty excited. I need some mind-rot TV to look forward to every week.
10. I'm way, super duper tired. Like, real bad. I'm going to bed, which I've wanted to do for two hours now. Just call me Grandma! Sweet dreams, and I'll be back soon!
I'm not sure, and I reckon nobody reading this is too sure, either. I can only say that I hope there are beans in Heaven, and I bet they're made using the recipe I'm about to share. I'll let you know when I get there.
I love beans and eat them all the time. They're tasty and a seriously cheap, filling source of protein and fiber. Black beans have long been my personal favorite, but I'm starting to accept kidney beans as a close second. I made a new bean recipe last night and it was amazing. Amazing! The cookbook calls them refried beans, but they are NOTHING like the gross, gelatinous bean glob you get from a can. This may just be my new favorite way to cook beans, although I made a few changes. This would be great as a burrito filling or just as a dip.
olive oil 1 large onion, sliced thinly(I chopped the onion in half and then sliced the halves. It's easier to keep the onion still that way.) 4-5 garlic cloves, minced 2 fresh jalapenos, seeded & white membranes removed, finely diced (You can leave the seeds/white membranes if you like things pretty spicy. You could also omit this completely or substitute a hotter pepper if you want.) 2 tsp. ground cinnamon (or more, to taste) 1/2 tsp. ground cloves (or more, to taste) (Ground cloves were $5.29 for a tiny jar at my grocery store, so I opted to use some pumpkin pie spice that I already had at home. It was a great substitute if you don't want to spend that much on ground cloves.) one 14-oz. can of whole tomatoes, drained two 14.5 oz. cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained(I use the dark ones because they're a prettier color, but light ones would work just as well.) 1 1/2 cups water 2 tbsp. butter salt, to taste
*Pour a generous amount of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute onions and garlic about 5 minutes or until they begin to turn translucent.
*Add the jalapeno, cinnamon, and cloves/pumpkin pie spice. Cook about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the spices. Add the tomatoes, crushing them once they're in the pan. Saute for another minute.
*Stir in the beans and water. Bring to a slow boil, smushing the beans as they cook. (I just used the back of the plastic spoon I was using to stir, but I reckon a potato masher would work great, too.) Scrape the bottom of the pan often to make sure the beans don't stick.
*Simmer until the beans are thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in the butter, and add salt & pepper as needed.
I ate this as a dip, with tortilla chips and some of my beloved Cholula hot sauce (found on the Mexican food aisle). Try this if you're looking for a unique new way to fix beans!
I love Gone with the Wind. Love, love, love, love, LOVE it. I've read the 1,000+ page book three times and seen the movie countless other times. I own the 70th anniversary collectors edition DVD. A few years ago, I was given what has to be one of the greatest Christmas presents of all time: a first edition copy of the book published in 1937. Major score for Mama and Daddy. If you absolutely forced me to choose which one I liked best, the book or the movie, my vote goes to the book. The book includes so many more details that had to be cut from the movie for time's sake. The book and movie are just so intertwined in my mind that I really do think they're both incredible.
If you're bored out of your ever-lovin' mind right now, it won't hurt my feelings if you run away screaming. I don't blame you.
Yesterday, Mimi took me, my cousin Sarah, and Sarah's boyfriend Chas on a little Southern adventure. We went to Arlington House in Birmingham to eat lunch and tour the house. It's the only antebellum home in Birmingham (fun fact: Bham didn't really exist before the war), and it. is. FABULOUS. This was completely up my alley. I love old homes, Southern antebellum homes in particular.
{I took this shot with one from the movie in mind...}
The lighting in most of my indoor pictures is pretty horrific...I know. Midday summertime sunshine is no friend of mine.
{Mimi thought this chaperone couch, with room for a courting couple and a chaperone in between, was a fabulous idea.}
{The quilt on this bed, called a crazy quilt, was phenomenal. Somebody please teach me how to do that.}
{close-up of the pretty wedding dress and shoes displayed in the master bedroom}
{mid-giggle...love these girls to utter pieces}
There were even girls in hoop skirts, hats, and gloves there to do the tours. (I was a bit bummed that they were rocking hoop skirts and I wasn't. I think I could totally rock a hoop skirt.) The Arlington House is a really incredible step back in time. If you're ever in the area, you should absolutely add this to your to-do list. Get in touch with your inner Scarlett!
My apologies to you if you're expecting to read a thought-provoking post that makes your spirit soar and your heart sing. This ain't it. It's Monday, and although I have plenty to say, none of my thoughts are cohesive. I blame it on Monday.
1. I have 15 more days of summer break. The end of summer/beginning of the school year always bring such a weird mix of emotions for me. I've got all sorts of exciting "teacher" ideas swimming around in my head, but I certainly wouldn't turn down an extra week (or six) of summer break.
2. We're supposed to get some rain today, and that makes me happy. We need it in a large way. I like rainy days, unless it results in inside recess. Then the students start pouting, and their teacher pouts right along with them. I'm outside recess's #1 fan. Those babies need to run!
3. So far, I've read 15 books this summer. And yes, I've kept a list. Nerd.
4. Last fall, I started working on my masters degree. I haven't taken a class since. I just may not want to get my masters, at least right now. There are too many other things I want to do with my life these days. Does this make me unambitious?
5. I've said before that I think I have trouble remembering important, pertinent information because I have so much random junk floating around in my brain. I learned this week that my darling brother has the same issue. He couldn't remember something vital he was trying to tell me (I've already forgotten what it was...no surprise), but he remembered that our family flew on a Southwest Airlines plane when we went on our cruise 12 years ago. We're two peas in a weirdo pod.
6. I have these itty bitty, totally obnoxious, nearly impossible to kill little flying bugs in my kitchen. Gnats? Fruit flies? I have done everything imaginable to get rid of them. I've stopped keeping fruits and veggies on the counter. I've scrubbed my counters, sink, and floor. About 13 times, I've thought they were gone but then they show their nasty little bug faces again. Yesterday, in a moment of total desperation, I turned on the vacuum and ran around with the wand, sucking up as many as I could. And you know what they did? They flew back out of the hose when I turned the vacuum off. They are the current bane of my existence, and I want them dead. Any advice?
7. The Bachelorette comes on tonight, and as much as I don't want to like this show, I look forward to Monday nights. Tonight is the Fantasy Suite dates. I've always had mixed feelings about this stage of the show, and I've wondered before what I would do if I made it to the Fantasy Suite portion of the show. I think I would turn down the offer...no doubt. Would you "forgo your individual room"?
8. I love Wickles. Love, love, love them. They've kind of ruined other storebought pickles for me. I especially love that they're made here in Alabama, in the hometown of my darling friends Kira and Oliver. I once saw a jar of Wickled okra and passed it up, and I've regretted it ever since. I couldn't find it anywhere after that! I discovered a jar at Publix last week and nearly caused a scene. I've been eating Wickled okra like that's my true calling. Who knows? Maybe that is my true calling. (I found, upon further research, that the website calls it "Wicked Okra" and not "Wickled Okra". You know what? I like "Wickled Okra" better, so that's what it shall remain.)
9. On my flight to Texas, we flew through lots of rain and a few thunderstorms. We teach our 5th graders about the types of clouds and what they can tell us about weather, so I snapped some shots out the window to use in my lessons this year. Check out this thunderstorm:
{I hope my new schoolbabies are as impressed by this one as I was.}
If you read all the way through this, you deserve a cash prize. Be checking your mailbox. Happy Monday, yall!
I thought about my Thankful Thursday post all day yesterday and kept saying, "Self, go post it." You can see that "self" never got on it. Thus, I present Thankful Thursday on a Friday.
Today I am thankful for...
the never-ending patience, love, and guidance of the good Lord
my family and friends
the health and safety of my family and friends
my health
the fact that I have a job to return to when this glorious summer break comes to an end
getting to meet some of my new students and their parents at registration this week...I seem to have a pretty great class, and I'm very much looking forward to this new school year!
the fact that this nasty, hard-to-breathe-in humidity will be gone in, oh, about 3 months or so
the library and the fact that I'm literate
clean, running water whenever I want it, a roof over my head, clothes to wear, shoes on my feet, a car that gets me where I need to go
enough money to take care of my needs and, occasionally, my wants
my birthday coming up...another year down is always a good thing!
a great technology workshop yesterday, and I'm glad Renita and Laura were there, as well
Suzy's recipes this week...Chocolate Crinkles (sounds perfect for a party or shower) and Kool-Aid Grapes (fun treat that left me wondering, "Why haven't I ever thought of that?!")
Tortellini Primavera, which I've shared here before and made again last night...I used mushrooms, spinach, red bell pepper, and a package of frozen peas (thawed) this time...make this and be ready to fall in love with it!
my blog friends...yall are pretty wonderful and I love ya :)
HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!
Be sure to tell someone you love them this weekend.
If you're a praying person, please keep the family and friends of Rachel Donaldson Robbins in your prayers. She went on to glory very unexpectedly Wednesday, leaving behind a sweet baby boy, a husband, and lots of family and friends. I know they would all appreciate your prayers.
Okay, that's kind of a lie. Alabama is and always will be my favorite state. But in terms of new favorite states, ones I've just discovered, Texas is at the top of the list. In fact, if Alabama closed and kicked everybody out, I'm almost certain I'd make Texas my new home. I made the trip to Texas last weekend to visit my longtime friend Neeley who moved there in May. I had never been to Texas before, and I certainly hope that this trip won't be my last. Loved. It.
Texas is my current favorite new state because...
1) It's hot. I mean really, really hot. Like open your oven up and stand in front of it hot. Not that I love heat. In fact, just the opposite...heat ain't my thing. I just think that everyone should have the opportunity to experience walking around outside in the blistering sunshine with temperatures pushing 110. It builds character. I'm glad I got to experience it once, and I'm thinking my next trip to Texas won't have anything to do with summertime.
2) Texas men dance...willingly. This is not something that happens with great regularity in Alabama, unless said men are a bit inebriated. Then it's a whole different ballgame. Neeley and her friend took me to a bar/dance hall where the Texas two-step was the name of the game. A nice gentleman asked me to dance and wasn't fazed when I expressed my utter lack of two-stepping experience. He was a good teacher and twirled me around and around (and around and around) until I felt sick. I'm told this is all part of the experience. A bit of nausea isn't a bad trade-off for a man who would be happy to take me dancing. Oh, and the place we visited had a sequin-covered saddle twirling from the ceiling like a disco ball. To say I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures is the understatement of the decade.
3) Cowboy hats, boots, cowboys, and cows are commonplace. Texas stars can be found on nearly every surface imaginable.
I'm a big fan of cowboy hats, boots, cowboys, cows, and stars. I fit right in...except for the two-stepping thing.
4) It's full of history and people are proud of it.
{Old Red Courthouse building as seen from Dealey Plaza}
{Old Red Courthouse}
{Neeley and me positively baking in the sun on the "Grassy Knoll"}
{the old Schoolbook Depository from which Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President Kennedy...I believe THE window is the top right one}
5. It's absolutely enormous. Huge! I know there is so much more to Texas than what I saw in Dallas, and it made me want to see it all. I love the history, the friendliness of the people, the wide open spaces...I'll be accepting donations for my Texas travel fund :)
I hopped on a plane Thursday and jetted off to the great state of Texas...my inaugural visit, I might add. Dallas was home base, and I had a ball. I saw the sites, ate some brisket, and sweated more than I ever have in all of my days on Earth combined. I also may or may not have tried my hand at the Texas two-step, and I may or may not have stepped on the toes of my unfortunate partner no fewer than 2,114 times.
I'll catch up on all my blogging soon. I'm off in search of some IV fluids to replace all that I sweated over the weekend.
the fact that I have a job to return to when summer break is over
being able to find out next week who my new schoolbabies are...summer is going by way too quickly, but it's always fun to see your new class list
summer break
air conditioning, particularly during this mind-melting heat wave
my plants (so far) surviving the heat
clean, running water available whenever I want it
leftovers that make a grocery run unnecessary
getting to visit with my parents and eat supper with them Tuesday
a nice long visit with Mimi on Tuesday, power outage and all...love her
some glorious, ground-soaking rain this week...I just love rainy days, especially in the summertime
the smell of summer rain
plans for the weekend that have left me deliriously excited...can't wait to blog about it
a good chat with Kate the other night...she's fabulous and I'm glad she's my friend
my Bubba's growing culinary skills...I think he's kinda wonderful
a nice early start this morning
new Rainbows...my old ones are nearly six years old and look like this:
{We've had many, many, MANY good times together. So long, old friends.}
my simple little life
sunscreen
free time to spend cutting up a mess of fabric...well on my way to building up a stockpile
Anna Claire ordering some burp cloths this week...she's such a sweetie and her email made me smile (If you want to read a true testimony of faith and trusting the Lord, click here and follow the link she listed. Anna Claire and Jeff's story is amazing and I admire them so much. I'm glad to know them.)
HAPPY WEEKEND, yall!
Take some time this weekend to tell someone how much you love and appreciate them.
I found this recipe in my complimentary USA Today (thank you, DaysInn of Robinsonville, MS) on Wednesday. I love lemonade in all of its forms...plain, strawberry, raspberry, even limeade. I don't love, however, the giant quantities of lemons and sugar it requires to make good lemonade. When I read this recipe, I was intrigued because I'd never heard of such. Watermelon lemonade? I decided to give it a whirl because I stole some watermelon from Mama and Daddy's house. I don't feel bad about taking it because their watermelon weighed 26 dadgum pounds! I don't think they'll miss the hunk I took.
This turned out to be so refreshing and is laughably easy. Here ya go:
Watermelon Lemonade
*4 cups of seedless watermelon (I just dug through and took out all the black seeds. I reckon you could also remove the white seeds if they bother you. You could always buy seedless if you don't want to do all that picking.)
*juice from 3 lemons
Throw everything in a food processor (or blender) and puree until very smooth. Chill in the fridge for a while or pour over ice. That's it! No extra sugar required, and it's a great way to use up some of that fresh summer watermelon.
This lemonade is perfect for those weeks when your weather forecast looks like this:
I finished The Help yesterday (after posting about it earlier) and feel compelled to recommend it to anyone I can get my hands on. Holy moly, this book is so good and just feels so...important. I'm glad to say I've read it. It's set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, in the infancy of the civil rights movement. The main character, Skeeter (who is white and dreams of being a writer), becomes disillusioned with the "Old South" way of life that persists in Jackson and decides to interview some of the black maids about their experiences working for white families. This quickly becomes a covert operation that Skeeter never anticipated. She meets with much resistance and has her eyes opened to the ways of the world while writing her story. I loved reading about the new friends Skeeter made and the changes that occur in so many lives because of her book.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. I often told myself, "Self, just one more chapter and then go to bed," only to find myself still awake reading three hours later. I just couldn't wait to figure out some of the more mysterious characters and see what unfolded next. Incredible story.
Look into The Help sometime soon; you'll be glad you did. Oh, and the movie comes out August 12th, so you now have one month to read the book first, if you're a "read the book before the movie" kind of person. Get on it!
What about you...have you read The Help? Are you planning to see the movie? When books are made into movies, do you like to read the book first? If you've read this one, let me know what you thought! If you haven't read it, get on that ASAP and report back to me :)
Earlier this week, Mom and I took a little 5 hour road trip to Tunica, Mississippi for a doctor's appointment. I didn't have high expectations for the journey. I figured we'd drive there, eat some drive-thru food, and drive back home. The trip ended up being one of the best trips in my recent memory. What a surprise!
The drive into Tunica was beautiful and pastoral, nothing but fields for miles and miles and miles. We even saw some rice paddies...in Mississippi! I had never heard of such. There is nothing (literally, almost nothing) in Tunica except cotton fields and casinos. That's it. We learned that Tunica is the 3rd largest gaming center in the United States. I'd like to meet the person who looked at Tunica and said, "Yes. This is where I shall build my casinos. I can't think of a more ideal location!" Homeboy had some serious vision.
We stayed in nearby Robinsonville, which is where the casinos are actually located, and were struck by the total absence of people. It was a bit creepy. I began to wonder if the Rapture actually did occur back in May, hitting Robinsonville, MS especially hard. I did a little research when I got home and found out that Robinsonville (which has "officially" been renamed Tunica Resorts) has very few permanent residents. Most of the people who live there are casino employees. Ah. Makes sense now.
Mom and I decided to hit up the casinos, since neither of us had ever been to one. Harrah's was our first stop.
We figured out why there were nearly zero people in town...they were all at the casinos. The inside was smoky and loud, just like I'd expected. It was fun to visit a casino for the first time but much less lively than I expected. Many of the people were just plopped down in front of the slot machines, piddling away what little money they seemed to have. Kind of sad. Mom and I were going to play, but we figured we'd get laughed out of the joint by playing $0.50 each. We stopped to feed the fish in the "moat" on the way out.
{They were literally fighting over the food. I'm not convinced that they weren't piranhas.}
Next, we set out in search of the Mississippi River. Mom had never seen it and I never get tired of seeing it. We found it right behind Fitzgerald's casino.
{"I shall build a castle in Mississippi." Serious vision.}
There's something really spectacular about the Mississippi River. Knowing that the water we were seeing had flowed all the way from Minnesota, marvelling that people used to sail down it using rafts...it's pretty amazing.
We had asked at the hotel what restaurants were nearby. I didn't have to worry about eating nothing but fast food; there were no fast food places to be seen for miles. We had only two choices: casino buffets or The Hollywood Cafe. Having already been to the casinos, we opted for The Hollywood. That ended up being the best decision we made on this trip. We pulled up and were the only ones there (in keeping with the Rapture theme and all). The inside is delightfully old and decorated very eclectically. Loved it. Since we had the place all to ourselves, we went into total tourist mode...roaming all over, exploring, taking obscene numbers of pictures. All we were missing was a pair of fanny packs.
{One lone sunflower growing by the side of the restaurant. Poor little guy...the Rapture must've left him behind, too.}
{We had to squeeze our pins into a very crowded Alabama.}
Mom was in the midst of exploring when I heard her squeal. She had stumbled upon this:
We were eating at THE Hollywood. It took me a second to make the connection, but then I remembered. "Muriel played piano every Friday at The Hollywood, and they brought me down to see her..."
Take a minute, listen, pretend like you're still at Auburn and it's Tim Tyler Tuesday at SkyBar and Tim bangs the first few notes of this on his piano and everybody goes absolutely nuts and you throw your head back and sway with your friends and screech along at the top of your lungs and all is right with the world. Sigh.
The Hollywood took on a whole new level of cool once we realized it was THE Hollywood. You know, THE Hollywood from the song and where some of the music video was filmed. In fact, I may have squealed, too.
{Marc and Muriel}
{me playing THE piano...it was too dadgum hot to wear makeup that day}
{Mom on THE piano}
We settled down long enough to feast on fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, and hamburgers. Delicious.
The next day, after the doctor visit, we decided to drive to Memphis, which is less than 20 miles away. We crossed over into Tennessee and drove straight to Graceland. We didn't want to go in; we just wanted to see what we could see. After realizing that parking was $10 (egads), we acknowledged that we'd seen the gate and that was close enough to Elvis for us, and drove on through downtown Memphis. We somewhat accidentally found the bridge over the Mississippi River and drove into Arkansas. As you drive over the bridge leaving Memphis, you're surrounded by buildings, city streets, and the hustle and bustle of downtown. Literally just yards away, in Arkansas, there are nothing but fields and tractors as far as the eye can see. Such a huge difference in such a short distance. We turned around, drove back across the bridge to Tennessee, on into Mississippi, and headed back to Alabama. All without a GPS...I was pretty proud. I wish I had pictures of all of this, but that's what happens when the photographer moonlights as the driver.
This journey turned out to be so much more fun than I expected. Have yourself a random little adventure sometime soon. It's good for the soul.
my health, and the health of my family and friends
the fact that my body moves and works without pain or stiffness or limitations...been thinking about that a lot lately and how much I've taken that for granted in the past
the job that I have to go back to in August
summer break
a safe, fun, productive road trip (that turned out to be quite the unexpected adventure) with Mom earlier this week
my car, and the super duper gas mileage it gets
a trip to visit Neeley in her new town very, very soon!
time to read, and really enjoy reading, this summer
the fact that I am literate
a good workshop on writing today, and a free book for attending...can't beat that with a stick!
lunch with Laura today...it was nice to catch up with her
some fun new sewing ideas
leftovers from our Independence Day feast
watermelon...holy moly, I love watermelon
sunscreen
crickets chirping outside my windows at night
Buddy the Dog's recovery from his tick-borne paralysis...PLEASE check your dogs (and yourself!) for ticks
Happy Independence Day to you and yours! What a blessing it is to live in a country where we enjoy so many freedoms. Thanks to the men and women (past, present, and future) who fight so hard to defend this great nation of ours. Thanks also to the family members who fight the good fight at home.
A very special thank you to my friend Julie E., and her husband Mark. Mark is spending this Independence Day in Afghanistan, serving with the Army. Sweet Julie is holding down the fort at home, raising their little one who is celebrating his first Independence Day today. I so admire her strength and bravery.
Enjoy your day, friends, and let freedom ring! I plan to exercise my right to eat obscene quantities of potato salad. What's on your agenda?
My name is Julie, and I'm a total bookworm. I love, love, LOVE to read. Love it. I've always been a big reader. I have very fond memories of weekly summertime trips to the public library. My mom would take my brother and me while my dad was at work, and we'd leave with stacks and stacks of books. We had a family "reading time" fairly often, where we'd all pile onto my parents' big bed and read...something. Anything. I guess you could say I come by it honest.
I still visit the public library fairly often, weekly in the summertime. I have no interest in buying an e-reader, because I love holding a real book in my hands. I'm too frugal (read: cheap) to buy books very often, so the library it is. I'm a large fan of the library, and judging by the perpetually full parking lot, I'm not the only one.
This week, I've been reading Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.
I'd seen this book brough up several times recently, so I decided to check it out. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I worried that, since the characters are teenagers, the book would be written for teenagers. Thankfully, that's not the case. The plot centers around a middle class, Midwestern girl beginning her freshman year on scholarship at a Northeastern boarding school. The story follows her through her painfully awkward first year, all the way to the end of her senior year. I didn't need to worry about not liking it; it only took a few chapters until I was riveted by the story. I literally couldn't wait to "follow" Lee through her years at Ault, to see if she was ever going to find a way to fit in.
I identified so much with Lee's feelings as she very first started at Ault. I spent most of my senior year of high school fantasizing about my new life at Auburn. I spent all of the summer after graduation preparing to move away and start college. I finally arrived in August and...instantly wanted to go home. I knew 5 people out of 20,000+. I missed my family. I didn't know my way around town. I didn't know yet what was "cool" and what wasn't. I assumed that all freshmen would be as green to the ways of college as I was, and I quickly learned that was not the case. It took a few weeks, but I found my place at Auburn and ended up having the time of my life. Reading Prep made me feel a bit wistful, but mostly it made me smile, glad that I was able to get things figured out with a lot less turmoil than Lee.
I started The Help by Kathryn Stockett this evening, and I've read 112 pages so far. I already don't want it to end.
It's incredible and I really don't want to stop, but my droopy eyelids are forcing me. I've heard oodles of great reviews, and I'm excited to be able to add mine when I finish it.
What about you? Are you a reader?
It's nearly midnight on a Friday night, and I stayed in reading a book. And I'm okay with that.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
"Always be humble, gentle and patient..." ~Ephesians 4:2
"You should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:16
