Memorial Day Weekend Recap

I'm back at work this morning and finishing this post during my lunch break.  Don't tell my boss...

Friday afternoon, I left work and got on I-40 towards Knoxville.  Of course, everyone else was either headed down I-65 to the beach or was on the interstate with me.  After I got past around Gallatin, things lightened up and I finally drove faster than 45 MPH.  I finally made it to the condo after an almost 5 hour drive.  I thought I'd done pretty well considering the traffic, but Daddy's first words were, "It took you long enough!"

Saturday morning, we went on a drive to nowhere basically.  We did visit Fontana Dam where I kept joking to Daddy that he could stump the people working at the Visitor's Center with his extensive knowledge of TVA's many dams throughout the Valley.

After visiting the dam, we also drove to Almond, NC.  I guess we are somewhere related to the settlers of this "town" (that's being generous), but I thought all of our Almonds were from Indiana.  I wish I could ask Aunt Nancy.  I'm sure she would know.

We drove through an area called "The Tail of the Dragon".  Let me tell you, driving it is hard work.  Especially with your parents--one of which makes you extremely nervous when driving.  I was glad to get to somewhat straight roads and even more glad to get back in the passenger's seat.

After we got dinner at Old Mill Pottery House Cafe & Grille and went back so I could soak in the pool for a few minutes.

Unfortunately, it was much colder in the pool that I expected.  The building blocks the afternoon sun from the pool, so I was quite cold in the shade of the pool.  After about 30 minutes floating around, I laid in the sun to warm up.  That was it for Saturday.

Sunday, we woke up much too early to go to church.  I usually like 8:30 church, but I don't when it's actually at 7:30 in my normal time zone.  Again, I was thankful to know the hymns since they had neither a choir or a song leader that morning.  After a nap, we went out to the pool before the sun was completely off the pool.  I managed to get a bit of a sunburn this time.  Not too bad, but still uncomfortable.  We ordered pizza and I fell asleep reading in bed.  I woke up around 11PM and was awake until 2AM since I'd slept so much during the day.  After reading myself to sleep again, it was time to get up and pack to go home. 

After Emma and I made it back to my house in Brentwood, I had to water my parched plants and yard and then washed my nasty car.  I can't believe how hot and humid it is already.  What are we going to do in July?

It wasn't that eventful of a weekend, but good nonetheless.  I'm glad for the long weekend and even happier that this work week is only four days long!

On the road again

That's right.  At exactly 5 o'clock this evening, I'm hitting I-40 East headed to the mountains.  Part of me wishes I was going home to Florence to see family and friends, but the other part of me is happy to spend the long weekend relaxing with Mama, Daddy and Emma.

I frantically packed this morning after falling asleep on my still-made bed with my work clothes and the lights still on.  Another example of my possible narcolepsy.  As I told Mama this morning, it'll be a surprise to us all if I have appropriate clothes to wear.  I'm sure I have my swimsuit and my hat, so at least I'm covered for pool time!

Memories

This past weekend, I made the trip home to Florence to spend some quality time with my family.  As always, the trip was too short and I found myself headed back up Highway 43 before I knew it.  Here's what went on...

Friday, I met Mama and Daddy at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Florence where I had one (or two!) margaritas with my yummy cheese dip and tacos.  Now that I've lived in three different places, I can say with absolute certainty that, while the menus may be the same, no restaurant can match Casa.  Once we got home, I needed some Emma time and then I went to bed very early--even for me.

Saturday started fairly early since my bed in Florence is just not as comfortable as my bed in Nashville.  Actually, I think the fact that I was cold was the true problem.  After I got moving, I went to take care of Grandaddy and get him ready for the afternoon.  Mama met me at Grandaddy's house and we arranged flowers to take to Haleyville later that day.  I think it's really an "Old South" thing, but both Grams and Grandaddy's families both had a "decoration" that is basically like a family reunion and a trip to the cemetery to put flowers on the graves of your loved ones.  Grandaddy's family's decoration is always on the third Sunday of May.  For various reasons, Sunday did not work for us this year, so Mama and I loaded Grandaddy up and took him to Haleyville Saturday afternoon.  I hadn't been back to the cemetery since the tombstone arrived and I was pleasantly surprised with how well the stone turned out.  It's not too small, but it's not a statue of the husband and wife like just down from our family plot.  I kid you not, there are life-size statues of this couple on either side of their tombstone.

After we got back to Florence, we spent a little more time with Grandaddy and then headed back to Mama and Daddy's house.  I decided to start cleaning out the closet in my bedroom and came upon some interesting things.  Besides my old Show Choir bloomers and jazz shoes, I found Chemistry notes from TEN years ago!  I must really be a hoarder to still have those.  I parted with some clothes that I will never be skinny enough to wear again and it felt good to get rid of things.  There's still a good deal of work left, but it looks so much better already.

Sunday started off with choir practice and chatting with good friends before church.  After church, we ate our usual meal and then Mama and I went back to see Grandaddy.  We watched a Netflix movie and then it was time to go back to Nashville.  My cousin, Lauren, is still here with her husband at Vanderbilt, but she spent the night with me last night.  After a quick trip to check on Adam, she and I went back to my house and decompressed a little before going to bed much later than my normal time.  Needless to say, I was quite tired this morning.

All in all, it was a busy, but good weekend.  I'm already looking forward to next weekend and an extra day off of work for Memorial Day!

Big Things

I've got some big things in the works.  I'm trying not to get too excited, but in the midst of some really bad things, something might be looking up.

Hopefully, I can give details in a few weeks, but for now I would just like to ask for prayers that things work out the way they are supposed to.

Busy Day

I woke up early this morning. My security system was beeping. There was some indecipherable code on the screen, but entering the my code fixed it. I guess it wanted me to know it had power again--finally.

Yes, the power finally came on around 3:30 this morning. Thankfully, all my frozen foods were still frozen, so the whole thing was just a little annoying. Plus, I learned how to manually unlock/open and lock/close my garage doors--with a neighbors help locking them!

After resetting all of my timers and clocks, it was time to start my day. I now know that I have too many clocks that rely on electricity. At least I have my mantle clock that always works as long as I wind it once a week!

I went out to use an "early bird" coupon to finally get patio furniture. I got a GREAT deal thanks to the manager that took care of me! I'll take a picture once the weather is nice again, but I'll add the store picture of the glider for now.

I don't have a huge deck, but I think the glider, the coffee table and a rocking chair will fit nicely. I didn't get a cushion, but I'm sure I'll find something eventually. I wanted a glider since I couldn't have a swing on my deck. Grams and Grandaddy have always had a swing on their patio and it's still one of my favorite things to sit down there with Grandaddy. Swinging (or gliding) is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind.

I also got two lamps for my bedroom. I think they'll work, but I'm going to try them out for a few days to make sure. Once I hang an antique painting over my bed, I think that room will be finished. It only took almost 11 months to get to this point!

I went back to Home Depot again for some hosta and more caladiums. I planted the caladiums, but then it started to rain again, so I'll have to wait on the hosta. I realized that I don't have a shovel anyway. That's something else to add to my list of things to get from home next weekend.

I've cleaned bathrooms, washed clothes, vacuumed and I don't know what else since I got home. Basically, this is the first time I've sat down all day. I'm definitely not complaining since this time last year I wouldn't have been able to do any of these things because I was always too tired. I don't think I realized at the time just how bad I felt because I'd felt like that for years, to be completely honest. It wasn't always do bad, but it wasn't this good either. I can't even complain about 50 trips up and down the stairs because I can run up and down them without any trouble!

Maybe I can actually finish my list of chores today do I can enjoy some time with Mama and Daddy tomorrow. I'll never understand how there's always so much to do when I am the only one living here.

Until next time...

Powerless

I'm blogging from my phone right now since I have no power and thus no wifi at my house. Apparently, there was a car accident this morning that severed a line that goes to a transformer that is part of my neighborhood's underground utilities. At least that's what a neighbor told me.

I made good use of the remaining daylight this evening. I watered my lawn and put down some fertilizer, planted a few caladium bulbs, pruned some vines and got them climbing up my trellises. Before I knew it, it was too dark to stay outside, but also too dark to do anything inside.

I tried reading by candlelight, but quickly determined that I don't have enough candles to have enough light to read comfortably. I need to get "emergency" candles so I'm better prepared next time.

It's really hot upstairs where my bedroom is, so I'm hoping to get a little sleep tonight.

Does anyone know how long the food in my freezer will be okay if I don't open the door? If hate to have to throw everything away.

Let's hope Nashville Electric gets the power back on soon--I have too many things planned for the weekend and I need electricity!

What's Happening...

I've been really busy lately with work and haven't done much that's interesting enough to write about. After May 15th, I think things will finally calm down for the summer at work. Until then, I still have Not-for-Profit returns to complete and they are definitely NOT my specialty. Translation: I have virtually NO clue what I'm doing! It's not literally that bad, but it's definitely not good or something I enjoy doing. I'm staying here this weekend, so I have a list of projects I hope to accomplish. I'm hoping to hang a few pictures, do some gardening, cooking and, of course, cleaning. I better do some laundry too if I want to have work clothes next week! I'd really like to finish The Hunger Games this weekend too, but I just haven't gotten hooked yet. Maybe I haven't gotten to the good part yet? Since I've put some of those things in writing, maybe I will feel like I have to hold myself accountable for accomplishing them? Miss E is back, so a good bit of my time goes to trying to make her happy. I throw her squeaky toys for what seems like hours on end and try not to annoy her too much the rest of the time. She's definitely in charge wherever she is! Case in point, she's glaring at me trying to get me to turn off the light and go to sleep. I guess I better listen to the boss! Ha :)

Fear Not

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?


“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.


“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

-- Hymn #529, The United Methodist Hymnal