A Visit to Music City

This week we paid a visit to Nashville to see April in her new hometown. We had the best time doing mostly nothing, our favorite pastime. As long as we eat and laugh it's all good. There was movie watching in the hotel room, several visits to really great coffee shops (Nashville has the best coffee shops), and of course a trip to Guitar Center in Nashville. I thought we would miss our flight - Chris and April were just lost in there. It goes without sayin, Mavis went with us. It was her 2nd trip on an airplane. She's a pro! I just have to stick a foot into her carrier under the seat and she's happy.


Chris, Mavis and I also got the chance to visit with Bernie at A Place to Bark. The folks at my office all pitched in to take a donation for her ongoing building project, which gave me a good excuse to visit. I really appreciated her taking time out of a very busy schedule to visit with us. I got the VIP tour of her shelter, and some always welcome puppy love from the adorable schnauzer pups! (it was FREEEZING - we had to tuck them in our jackets)


In a addition to her obvious passion for animals, Bernie is an artist. She is active in the ATC (Artist Trading Card) movement, having written a book and teaching others how to create in workshops. Bernie gave me a copy of her book, and now I'm getting motivated. I may have to start a shoe box of supplies and get started creating my own cards. I majored in Fine Art/Painting and Drawing in college. I've just let it go over the years. This would be a great way to get back in the swing of things. I've still got some of the old tools, just need to dust them off.

Most of all I'm encouraged by the hearts of others who strive to do the right thing, and give selflessly. Not just Bernie, but my April too. It was a good visit.

A House for Mr. Spock

We got Mr. Spock's house up today! Now we wait and hopefully Mrs. Spock with love the house and we'll have little owlets come spring!

Pumpkin Patch

We made our annual trip to the local pumpkin patch this weekend. It always has that small town feel and really gets me going for the holiday season. Sometimes I imagine that I live in Stars Hollow while we're there (one of the things on my life list..live in a town like it). There's fresh roasted corn on the cob and made fresh kettle corn right there in a big kettle while you watch.

The corn maze is pretty spooky at night - they hand out flashlights and you can always count on someone to lurk and scare the bajeebas out of you. I've gotten lost in there during the day, which is precisely why I let everyone else go while I stand by ready to call in the choppers to search for them if they don't come back :) I was perfectly happy to sit with Mom on a bench and people watch. Kids running wild with excitement. I love it.


Mavis tagged along and was tortured by wearing her costume for this year, compliments of Aunt Pamela:) She wears these things to make me happy you know. She'll have to wear it again to my office on Oct 31st. So this was a good practice run. She was the cutest pumpkin in the patch.


Of course we went on the hay ride. Half the fun is waiting for your turn, and then spotting the rabbits and foxes in the field at night. My niece Sadie commented that they went way slower this year. I'm pretty sure that was because she is a year older and it just seemed slower. Pretty soon there won't be any kids in the family that still want to do the hayride. What will my excuse be then :)


Sadie made a great Tiger, but sadly, her wild getup didn't help my LSU Tigers at all. While we were at the Patch, they had their first loss of the season. Ironically to Sadie's favorite team, the Florida Gators.


At the end of the night, we all got to pick out a pumpkin or two to take home. I'm grateful for a Mom that insists we all still do these things, and who will always treat us to it.

PS.. April and McKenna, we really missed having you here this year.

The Dog Whisperer

I'm a HUGE fan of the Dog Whisperer. Cesar Millan is hosting a live seminar and I wish I could go (with Mavis of course)

Cesar's ONLY 2008 Live Seminar!
Saturday, December 6th, at 2 PM
Atlanta, GA - John A. Williams Theatre
at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Click here for details. Anyone want to donate a ticket to get us there :) We could really use some Dog Whisperin'!

My Hawaiian Vacation

This is as close as I'm going to get to a vacation in Hawaii any time soon. My sweet friend Marilyn brought me back a fresh flower lei, and some seashells and sand from a business trip to one our Hawaiian offices.

Ya think I should arrange for something to go terribly wrong in my area of expertise so I'll get sent over? No, that would be very wrong. Hmmmmmm.

Update on "The Ugly"

Well the city says that it's not just them but also a state and fed thing or something - if the dish is less than 10 feet - 10 FEET people - it can go where ever Mr. Neighbor wants to put it. I guess I should be grateful that it's not a 9 foot dish. Maybe I should plant a tree to block the view. What kind of tree should I plant?