Views of Downtown Weston

We had an opportunity to get away to Weston last weekend to attend a friend's wedding reception.  We decided to go up early, hit a couple wineries and check into the historical St. George Hotel before heading out to the Red Barn Farm. Weston is always bustling. This particular weekend there was a VW car show on Main Street complete with live music right in front of the hotel. Even though I think Lawrence is one of the best towns ever, you gotta love a place that houses a kilt shop that serves shots of Irish whiskey and has a shop that hand rolls cigars made from locally grown tobacco.

I recently traveled to Milwaukee for the first time for work. I was pleasantly surprised by all the tasty amenities this city offers.  The weight limit of my suitcase was tested with all the cheese, pretzel bread,  and sausage I brought home for my family. Yes, all if their souvenirs were edible. Even the chocolate cow pies.

My coworker recently started geocaching so we thoroughly explored the Old Town district searching for bobbles.

Our scavenger hunt led us to the most intriguing place I've ever been; a place called The Safe House. If you visit, be sure you know the password.  Otherwise be prepared to make a fool out of yourself (like hopping around like a furry woodland bunny) while everyone already inside watches. This spy themed bar is well worth the humiliation. Once inside your secret server will send you on a mission to recover the password if you like. Ladies,  just try to resist the Burt Reynolds temptation test in the ladies room. Otherwise everyone in the restaurant will know you violated Burt when the lights and sirens go off. Of course I could NOT resist...twice. 

Images of Milwaukee

There is a quote from the movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower that I have been thinking of today. It's a profound statement referring to how we perceive ourselves and the kind of relationships we choose.

" We accept the love we think we deserve."

Love is never perfect. We will always find things about our partner we would like to change but how often do we settle rather than allowing ourselves to contemplate an alternative? All the time; it's less complicated that way. It must be another defect in us as  humans because animals don't behave that way. I admire the Black Widow spider who would simply eat her mate if he didn't suite her... or forgot to do absolutely everything. No digging required.

I guess the fact is I have allowed myself to accept less than I feel I deserve and now I have to fix it.  I get so upset when my mother allows people to take advantage but yet, I am perhaps no better. I may be passive aggressive but I'm never going to be labeled as submissive.

No Techy Genes Here

My mom recently came for a visit and with every trip she had a gadget issue. This time it was understanding Facebook and how to block certain things. She also told Gen that her bowling app on her ipod was gone and she didn't know how she would get it back. My cousin had put it on there for her while she was in Tennessee visiting her last fall. 

Gen: Grandma,  you probably just need to download it again.
Mom: How do I do that? Do I have to go back to McDonald's?
Me: Why would you need to go to McDonald's?
Mom: To get the wifi.
(Gen snickering)
Me: Mom, we have wifi here.
Mom: You do? Do I?
(Gen still snickering)
Me: Yes....
Me: Wait, was it a McDonald's in Tennessee?
Mom: Yes it was!
Me (laughing): Then yes! You have to go back to THAT McDonald's in Tennessee.

Later Gen asked, "Mom, are you going to be like grandma someday and forget how to do stuff?"

As much as I hate it, yeah...probably.  Sorry kid. Then she and her daughter can laugh at me. That will be SO fun...

Better Late Than Never

Yesterday I acknowledged another year on this earth. I dare to use the word celebrated because the day began very low key. In fact I was convinced my family had forgotten all about it. I still think they did even though they firmly deny it.  "That's what we wanted you to think, mom." Okay,  whatever. My day was a good one despite the slow start.  Daniel took us out for dinner, Syd baked a cake, and yes, there were presents and wine. Overall, a special day provided by all the people I love; not a bad way to get a year older.

Easter 2013

This was Brenna bug's first Easter.  We had lots of playtime and egg hunts with brother.

Then we left when mama starting getting crazy.

Images of a Colder Time

While the snow fell...

 And the children built snow furniture...

 The furry beings in our home snuggled down. 

Oh, and me? I shopped online for internet bargains.

Phone Home or Something

I have a confession. For months now I’ve had an E.T. living in my house. I know…, it’s shocking to admit. To see it you would think it is pretty cute but that is a facade and what makes it dangerous! It can be social when it wants to be but you can’t force it. I have to remember not to make direct eye contact or try to engage it in conversation; it will shut down quickly and run back to its room. If you do get it to stick around and talk, don’t ask about its boyfriend or anything seemingly personal. This WILL surely anger the beast. It also likes to repeat the phrase, “I don’t want to be around people!”  I’m thinking if this alien life form doesn’t like people so much, why does it enjoy shopping and going out to eat? It must be ‘certain’ people it doesn’t enjoy. 

This mysterious creature also has a finicky palate. It prefers a diet of potato chips, Starbucks, DQ Blizzards, and pizza rolls. If you try to feed it something else, something you deem healthy, it will sneak around at night and rifle through the cupboards. Oh, this alien also seems to also have an aversion to reusing the same drinking glass more than one time, putting its dirty dishes anywhere other than the sink, or even doing laundry. It is a rather filthy animal at times and I have wondered if it should live outside instead. It hides upstairs in its den with the door shut. If you knock, it may let you in but be cautious not to overstay your welcome as it will tell you it’s angry and ask you to leave. It really is a rather rude creature. 

With all of these flaws you may wonder why I don’t call someone to have it removed. Well, the thought has crossed my mind. I hear there are places where you can send these ‘things’ and in a few years when you get them back they are much tamer, sometimes even polite. Wow… I wonder what that would be like? 

No, for now I’m trying to convince my personal E.T. that I’m not the enemy. Hopefully someday it will leave…. but come back a kinder, gentler version of its former self.

I have had Tennessee Titan's season tickets going on 13 years now. Every year we try to go to at least one game because we have such a great time in Nashville. We now know all the local hangouts and the best place to get real Southern BBQ. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmmm! We also know exactly which places to avoid (Coyote Ugly) unless you are into shit-hole dives with drunk 20 somethings tending bar AND who lack the intelligence to get a simple drink order correct EVEN THOUGH there are only 8 people in the bar. *Whew* I may have some residual pent up hostility. When they started what they called "the show" consisting of body shots off total strangers we realized clearly we were in the wrong bar or just needed to drink more.... elsewhere. Plus I feared I may end up needing a Penicillin prescription from putting my mouth on the glass I was given. The place was straight up country skank ghetto.

I still had one game open and it just happened to be New Year's Eve weekend so we thought maybe it would be cool to go. Then we did a little research and discovered that Nashville has a HUGE celebration on Broadway. Sold!

Some friends of ours, unbeknownst to us, had planned to go that same weekend to watch his alum NC State play in the Music City Bowl. So, what the hell, might as well go to that game too! So we joined The Wolfpack for one afternoon. 

Rainy New Year's Eve

 

FINALLY after standing in the rain for over two hours determined NOT to be a quitter, The Fray played their set and we all partied and celebrated the music note falling at the stroke of midnight. I was personally more relieved that we were then free to sprint back to our hotel and get warm.  Of course as soon as I did just that, somebody decided we needed to go back out and grab pizza before calling it a night. I had no idea that walking three blocks for pizza would feel like such a dangerous thing to do but clearly all the sober and/or normal people had long gone home. I mean, hello.. there we were!

 

The Fray - Bash on Broadway 2012

These pics may be a bit haunting in black and white tones but I can confidently say that I encountered no ghosts in Nashville and I sincerely doubt they will ever follow me again.

This trip I took "my" town back and replaced all the old memories with new, better ones. Corner turned. 

Free State Winter Formal

Gentry & Christopher

 

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party 2012

2012 Most Creative

2012 Naughty Award Winner/Most Creative

And he wondered why everyone kept touching his carrot.

2012 Dude Looks Like A Lady Award Winner.

 Roger wondered why the buttons on his vest were backwards. His wife told him it must be European. Hey Roger..., it's cause it's a woman's sweater!

2012 Fruit Cake Award Winner

Hey! Is that Clifford the Big Red Dog??

Baby B is growing so fast and she is a healthy girl. Talking to my sister regarding teenage boys and my girls I told her she better hope B is ugly when she grows up. My sister said, "Dude. She's already like 300lbs in baby world!" The good thing is at this rate she will be able to take down any boy that even tries to mess with her.

Post Turkey Thanksgiving Day 2012

The Many Faces of ...

We sent this picture to my sister while she was at the hospital waiting to be induced. We told her this is what "Big Bertha" would look like when she came out.

All the necessities: candy, coffee, cell phone, and a warm cuddly puddy tat.

 

Can you spot the second goofball in this picture?

Drama Queen's Acting Debut

 

 Syd made her acting debut in the school fall play "That's A Wrap." It was an original script written by her teacher to accommodate a large number of kids and to also utilize some free Egyptian themed props. Syd had a small speaking part but she worked it and really got to show her talent.

You know the play is a hit when your 6yr old nephew leans over and says, "Mom! This is HILARIOUS!"

The Fall Ball Finale

Here's the pitch....

Swing batter, swing!

See Gentry run.

My Grandpa Dieffenbaugh was the kind of man who believed it wasn’t a meal if he wasn’t being fed meat and potatoes. That man loved his potatoes and gravy and loved sopping up his plate with a piece of bread.  As a kid I loved eating at his house. It was like Sunday dinner every day there. I also remember during the winter he always had a small bottle of vinegar and honey and he would take just a spoonful after his meal. Supposedly it was to help remedy sore throats and coughing. I would sneak it when I could. I LOVED that stuff! I used to take a spoonful while singing “Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins in my head.

Now with it getting colder and the kids sniffling and complaining something reminded me of this old concoction Grandpa used to take. So I mixed some up. I’ve mixed up four batches so far and the last bottle only lasted me three days. No, I haven’t been sick; I just love the stuff that much! I even Googled the dangers of drinking too much vinegar but Dr. Oz assured me I can safely drink up to 2 oz. per day. *Whew* There are even some significant benefits to consuming a small bit of vinegar including weight loss. At the rate I’m going I will be pickled inside out by the New Year! Cheers.

Halloween 2012

Maaaan, I love that there is an app for nearly everything, including how to talk and look like Flo the Progressive Insurance lady! The only thing I was missing was my price checker.

Finding a Halloween costume is easy but finding one appropriate for work is a little more challenging. I also was scheduled to present yesterday at RA (research administration)101 which is podcasted for our online viewers. I made sure I was clear that contrary to how I was dressed, I was NOT there to give them a great deal on their insurance.