I definitely made the "nice list"

Well, from the looks of it, I was the only bum who didn’t get on and write anything during the week of Christmas. I think I’m finally caught up on reading everyone else’s stuff, so now I’ll attempt a post of my own.

Man, last week FLEW by! It was a whirlwind of driving, laughing, family, presents and foam NERF darts (given to my brother as a gag gift from his girlfriend’s family, but the object of a very interesting night – as Sean tried to make a suction dart stick to his forehead. Yes… he’s 17. But it was hilarious.)

I had a wonderful time in Mobile with Mama’s family. We ate, laughed and exchanged presents – then played an impromptu game of poker. I learned that it’s really easy to bet big when you’re playing with imaginary money. “Yes, I’ll see your dollar and raise you a million.”

Then it was off to Mississippi for a few days (that’s where the NERF darts come into play.) It was great to see everyone over there again. I wish the drive wasn’t so long. I’d love to be able to visit more often.

Toby was a champ. He had a strenuous week of car trips and being shuffled around from house to house. Overall, I think he handled it pretty well. We both slept like babies last night. (Although, I’m not sure that’s an accurate depiction, because I hear babies wake up all the time. Who came up with the saying, anyway? How about ‘slept like someone who drank a bottle of NyQuil?’)

We got home last night to find that a stray cat had taken up residence in Toby’s dog house. Needless to say, he was NOT happy. Although he rarely, if ever, actually gets in it, he became extremely territorial. I think the whole neighborhood knew he was upset. I literally had to go pull him away from the door of the dog house so the cat could get out. He had her blocked in, barking incessantly, with every hair on his body standing straight up. I don’t think he realizes that the cat could have shredded his face if she wanted to. I’ve never heard a cat hiss that loud – more like a scream, really. And guess what? She was back in there this morning. Apparently Toby didn’t scare her very much.

Kevin came by last night and cooked me supper before we exchanged Christmas presents. He grilled steaks, made green beans and squash and cooked garlic toast. It was de-lish. And he gave me the PRETTIEST pair of Sorrelli earrings. I LOVE them! He did an excellent job picking them out.

Overall, I racked up this Christmas. I guess I must have been really good this year! No coal for me. Included in all of the loot was an Amazon Kindle, a Magellan GPS system, seasons 2-4 of House (best show EVER), Burberry Brit Red perfume, my guitar, a Jimi Hendrix strap for my guitar, an AWESOME houndstooth, fitted Alabama tee, some really good kitchen utensils, a pretty scarf, more Mitch Hedberg and a book and DVD set to teach me basic guitar skills. Cha-ching! My family was too good to me.

Ooh, and Sean gave me a box of guitar picks, new strings and some stuff to put on the strings so my fingers won’t hurt so bad. I’m looking forward to trying that out. I didn’t realize how painful it would be at first. Totally worth it though.

Anyway, that is the brief run-down of a very busy week.

What about y’all? Get (or give) anything cool this year?? I’d love to hear about it!

Vacation memories

The cooler weather is tugging at my heart and making me miss family vacations to the Smokies.

While there have been a few truly miserable trips, due to a large dose of family bickering and a dash of drama, last year's vacation made up for the lackluster years in the past.

Since I'm feeling all nostalgic, I'm going to make this a picture post and share some of my favorite moments from our last trip.

We started off in Gatlinburg. I know I look rough in this picture, we'd been in the car all day. This was right before supper our first night there and I was giddy with excitement. Although we've been on trips like this countless times, I still feel like a kid when we finally get there. This is Chase, my youngest little brother, who will be 11 in just a few weeks. When did he get so old???

Here we are again, this time in the woods. I love this part of the trip. The sights and sounds of Gatlinburg are fun, but to me, the best part is being able to get out and enjoy nature.

Back in Gatlinburg, me and Chase are making idiots of ourselves. It was fun though! This was in the 3-D mini golf attraction. The pictures turned out to be the best part. It was hot and stuffy inside, and they kept playing carnival music, which kind freaked me out. I'm one of those nerds that read It and am consequently scared to death of clowns.

This was the view from under the swinging bridge on Grandfather Mountain in Boone, North Carolina. It was my first trip up there and it was honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. This is the "mile-high" bridge — it hangs more than 5,800 feet above sea level. Of course I had to walk across it. :)

Also at Grandfather Mountain. This bear cracked me up. It was in a pen with some other bears, and they would all sit there and beg for treats. Chase got a kick out of throwing it food. It would catch it, gulp it down and immediately start begging for more.

Mama will be ashamed, but I can't remember the name of this waterfall. All I know is that it's the one you can walk behind. It had been dry that season, so it wasn't flowing very strong, but it was still pretty.

This is the view from the top of Grandfather Mountain. See all of those people standing on the edge of the cliff? I wanted to be one of them so bad, but was told that as long as I was on a family trip, I'd get nowhere near it. Guess I'll have to go back by myself for that one.

Overall, the trip was so much fun.

I wish I was there now...

Turkey Day pictures

Wow! What a long weekend! Am I the only one that had a hard time getting up and facing reality this morning??

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I fully intend on blogging about mine later, but seeing how I haven't been at work since last Wednesday, I should probably get busy here.

I'm way behind on reading y'all's stuff. I honestly haven't looked at a computer screen in five days. I'll catch up though...eventually. Probably not today.

I'll leave you with some pictures from Turkey Day.

Me and Sean, Thanksgiving morning.

Sean and the Murph-dog, playing the guitar. He actually taught me FIVE chords this weekend. I'm well on my way to being a rockstar. (I know five chords isn't much, don't ruin my delusion.)

My cousin Jessica, me and Sean. Yes...I'm short.

Tis the season to be thankful

Well, it’s finally Wednesday…it’s just not the right time of Wednesday. But, a few more hours (which I’m sure will fly by) and I’ll be on my way to Ridgeland.

I realized this morning how dependent I’ve become on Wednesday’s writing prompts. With it being Thanksgiving this week, I can understand why Kat wouldn’t want (or have time) to read all of them. But seriously…I have to come up with my own post today?

I guess I’ll be a little cheesy here and do an “I’m thankful for” list. While it might not be the most creative idea, it does seem to fit the season.

I’m thankful for all of the people in my life who love and support me. Yes, Mama and I had our moments of hell throughout my adolescence, but at the end of the day, I knew she loved me. Not everyone can say that. At least I had a mom to argue with, you know? And I am so thankful that we finally understand each other after many years of fussing.

Yes, my parents got divorced when I was young, but I am so thankful that they both found someone else to make them happy.

I’m thankful that I have a step-dad who has NEVER treated me like a step-daughter (he always said the word "step" implied a lesser love.) He has always been there for me and Mama, and has sacrificed so much for me.

Daddy and I didn’t get to see each other much over the years, but I’m so thankful that I always knew he was just a phone call away, willing to hear me out and calm me down. He used to be my safe harbor, when the arguments with Mama got too heated, but I know now that he is much more than that. I'm so thankful that I feel closer to him now than I ever have before.

I am thankful that he found my step-mom and that through all of the struggles and hardships they’ve endured, their love has grown stronger. I’m thankful that over the years, she and I have bonded and become friends. I’m so thankful that she continues to make my Daddy and my little brother so happy.

And that brings me to Chase and Sean. I am SO thankful that they are both growing up to be such wonderful young men. They each have their own special talents and such sweet, sweet hearts. Chase is so smart and creative. Although he’s still very young, I know he has a brilliant future ahead of him. Sean continues to make me so proud. He stands firm in his faith and sets a great example for those around him. I know being a teenager is tough, but he is pulling it off remarkably well.

I’m thankful for Kevin. While our relationship has been tried and doubted, he has always, always been there for me. He is truly the best friend I could ask for. He believes in me and encourages me to be the best person I can possibly be. He brightens my day and makes me smile. He endures my cranky moments and honestly likes me best in jeans and no make-up. I’m so thankful that he actually loves me for who I am. There’s no pretending.

There is so much more. How do you narrow it down to a single post? I’m thankful for my job and my home. For having food to eat and being able to pay my bills. I’m thankful for my idiot dog, who makes me smile and keeps me company.

I’m thankful for all of you who read my blog and leave me encouraging comments; for all of the friendships I’ve made with complete strangers.

I have been so very blessed.

Thank you.

Is it Wednesday yet?

Wow, is it Monday already? Where did the weekend go?? It was pretty fantastic, and now it’s over. If it weren’t for the four-and-a-half day weekend I have coming up, I might be sad.

Friday night, I hit the road and headed up to Alabaster to visit the fam. My aunt and uncle and their two ADORABLE babies were over visiting and I couldn’t pass up a chance to see them.
Saturday we went to the new Bass Pro Shop that opened up near Birmingham. It was fun, but opening weekend probably wasn’t the best time to go. It was so crowded you almost couldn’t move around comfortably. Add three kids, 10 and under, to the mix and it could get a little hectic. (But still fun. I’m not complaining.) And in their defense, the kids were really, really well behaved.

After supper that night, I headed back home. I hate that I couldn’t stay longer, but I had Toby with me and I was afraid he’d bark in the middle of the night and wake up the baby. He’s not allowed to stay inside at Mama’s, and he gets lonely in the garage (as was evident by his barking EVERY hour, on the hour, Friday night.) He has a little separation anxiety. It’s like he thinks if he doesn’t bark, I’ll forget he’s out there. I called the vet this morning to see about boarding him while I’m at my dad’s this week, and guess what? They’re booked. Greeeeeaat. Prepare yourself, Dad – you’re about to get five days of Toby. I know you’re ecstatic.

Anyway, when I got home from church Sunday, I decided to force-feed myself holiday cheer. I cranked up the Christmas music, got out the tree and proceeded to decorate the house. And you know, it kind of worked. After the initial frustration of putting the tree together and stringing the lights (WORST thing EVER – next year I’m buying a pre-lit tree) I actually started to feel the excitement. I think the candles helped. The Christmas Tree candle made my house smell so good, it was impossible not to feel a little giddy at the thought of Christmas.

Speaking of giddy – I had almost decided not to even mention this in my blog because SO many other people have already been raving about it, but I can’t help it. I guess I’m jumping on the Twilight bandwagon. I read the first book over the weekend and was absolutely captivated. Yes, it’s probably geared more toward the high school, teenage readers, but I fell in love. If for some reason, you’re trying to avoid the series because of all the hype – give in and go buy them. I won’t make you suffer through all of the brilliant details because a) you’ve already read them, b) your planning on reading them and I don’t want to spoil it for you, or c) you have absolutely no interest and don’t care to read about how absolutely fantastic the first book was. (And it was SO fantastic.)

So that was my weekend. Spending time with family, Christmasfying the house and reading a wonderfully amazing and spectacular book. (Did I mention it was fantastic?) Now it's two and half days of work, followed by a loooong weekend of fun in Mississippi. I am so beyond excited about seeing everyone over there. Is it Wednesday yet??

Fabulously Fall

Hello and happy Monday. I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Mine was the perfect combination of rest and productivity. Here’s the run-down:

Saturday I slept in until around 9:30 (by which time Toby was whining incessantly wanting to go outside.) I was pleasantly surprised by the weather when I took him out. It actually felt like FALL! Which made going back inside to do my weekend chores really, really difficult. But I was strong. I got all of my dishes washed and most of my laundry finished in time to enjoy an afternoon of serious football watching. I wasn't as fortunate as Jen and her fam, who actually got to go to the Bama game, but I did enjoy watching it on TV. Let me correct that statement. I enjoyed watching the first half. The second half was down-right painful. Why can’t we pull it together and play a WHOLE sixty minutes of football?! It’s like we quit after half-time. (Yes, I know I keep saying we. I’m also aware that I don’t, and never have, played football. It’s a figurative “we”)

“We” scraped by with a four-point win. SO, although it wasn't pretty, Alabama still remains undefeated. That deserves a ROLL TIDE! (Sorry Uncle Frank, I know you were disappointed. Maybe next year!) Oh, and Toby showed his team spirit by rocking his Bama jersey all day. He hasn't even tried to eat it yet. A sure sign he’s a true Alabama fan.

Sunday, Kevin and I left bright and early and headed to Mama’s for a day of loading furniture and hiking. I was fortunate enough to have a set of California king mattresses bestowed upon me, courtesy of the fam. (My step-dad is 6’7, so he has to have the extra length. But this set was too soft for Mama, and PERFECT for me…lucky me!) So now, my 5’3 frame gets to stretch out on a gianormous bed (which takes up practically my whole bedroom — but I’m not complaining!) I also came into possession of a new entertainment center this weekend. Score! My house is coming together quite nicely! :)

After getting everything loaded into Kevin’s truck, we all (with the exception of my step-dad who was watching football) headed to Oak Mountain for a WONDERFUL hike. (By wonderful, I mean this one was NOT sixteen miles long and it was about 15 degrees cooler outside. If you don't know what I'm refrencing, see this.)

Overall it was a pretty great weekend. Football, family, furniture and friend-boy (okay, that last word is backwards but it needed to start with an “f” to go with the rest of the sentence...and the title of today's blog.)

And kudos to Kevin for being such a champ. This is the about the gazillionth time he’s helped me move furniture. ::Sigh:: My hero.

The Bible and the beach

Last night I was lost in reflection as I thumbed through the Bible that Grandma brought me when she came to visit. This isn't just any Bible...this is one that she was given in 1978, and nearly every page is filled with notes in her handwriting. There are dates written beside verses, marking important passages of her life.

I don't think she could ever know how precious a gift that was to me. Years and years ago, she promised the Bible would be mine one day, and I thought she had forgotten. But on the inside of the front cover, she had written "To be given to Heather when I die, Mom". After crying at the thought of one day not having her, I started turning the pages and cherishing her words.

I think one of my favorite notes was one that read, "When Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of your future because of the grace of God." It's comforting to know that no matter how many mistakes you've made, God still forgives you and promises a future of eternal life.

In other news, Mama, Loretta and Brooke are coming to see me tonight. I think four people in my tiny little house might be pushing it, but the company will be nice. We're leaving in the morning to spend the day in Destin. The high is only supposed to be 84 tomorrow, so I don't know how much time I'll spend in the water, but it will be nice to relax on the beach for awhile.

Maybe I won't come back looking like a lobster. :)

Hair trauma

So, here it is...the new, waaaaay short hair-cut I got Saturday. While still in "hair shock" at the amount the scissor-happy man-stylist took off, it is starting to get more bearable. I'm starting to hate it less. :)

Thankfully, everyone at work has been super supportive and they continue to tell me it looks good, so that helps a lot. Of course, they could just be saying that to spare my feelings! Who knows?

Besides the traumatic hair experience this weekend, I had a great time on my visit home. I finally got to see Dean, who is hands-down, the CUTEST baby I have EVER seen! I'm not exaggerating. That child definitely won the looks lottery, not to mention the personality lottery. (Congrats Jen...your child is amazing! But you already knew that.)

Snide comments, sarcastic remarks...how can you NOT love him?

In case you're wondering, I'm talking about Dr. Gregory House, from my favorite TV show. Yes my friends, tonight is the season premiere of House at its all new, easy viewing time. Can you tell I'm excited?
Sure he's cranky, mean and sometimes unethical, but he makes me laugh. :)

In other news, the way-too-expensive treadmill I bought a few weeks ago DOESN'T work. I got the daggum thing lugged in the house, unpacked, put together (all while cursing at it for being so heavy), then when I plugged it in - NOTHING HAPPENED. So naturally I tested the outlet, found that it worked with other things, and got even more frustrated. I have literally tried everything. I took the cover off the place where the motor is housed and found that the little indicator light inside comes on, but nothing else does. So now, I get to REPACK the blasted thing, call the freight company to come pick it up and then start all over!! Good grief. I think I'm going to get a refund and just go to a sports store and buy one. Next time though, I'm hiring someone to do the heavy lifting and assembly. Putting it together is not supposed to be the only workout you get from the thing!

On a happier note, Grandma is coming to stay with me Friday night (which means the disaster that is my house needs some work). Bright and early Saturday we're headed to the B'ham area to visit Cousin Jen and family! (my first experience with Baby DEAN!) I can't wait to see everyone. I'm sure there are fun times to be had for all. :)