Wednesday, May 28, 2008

IT'S ALIVE!!!


Well, most of you know that I am alive! I just haven't blogged in quite a while. After my return from Idaho, I guess that things just got so busy and hectic that I found it hard to find time to sit down here at the computer, cruise frequented websites, check email and all of the daily things that I was used to. So, now to get back into the swing of things I'll list just a few things that I've been doing! Work, work, and more work. You know, it's hard to play "catch up" and have the feeling that you still haven't achieved the "being caught up" feeling.
Just a few things to share! On my flight back to Paducah I spent a lot of time reading. I read another Jodi Picoult novel and enjoyed it. I had a three hour lay over in Minneapolis/St. Paul and considered braving the Mall of America, but decided against it after about 2 minutes of thought. I opted to eat at a restaurant that had a bunch of micro brew beers available for tasting. I had the biggest order of nachos that I had ever seen. The beer wasn't too bad, but cost more than my food did. When I arrived in Nashville, I went to retrieve my luggage, and guess what!? It never showed up. Turned out that those Potato Heads in Idaho Falls, you know, the ones that work for TSA, had tagged by bag with the wrong flight number. I had such a feeling of panic and had to take a "calm me down pill". I went into this little office, they took all of my information and told me that they would send it via courier. I thought YEAH RIGHT, there goes my Idaho Rotten Potato VODKA, my work keys, all my underwear, and my Old Navy wardrobe! You ever had one of those moments where you just felt like you couldn't deal? Well, this was it for me! Dude assured me that the courier would be calling me to ask for directions to my house. Aforementioned PILL had kicked in by then. Whatever! I gave them my trusty cell phone number and went on my way! My friend Karen was in Nashville that day to pick up a friend of hers, Barb. Karen told the husband that she wouldn't mind picking me up also, although it was a little later in the day. When they arrived, I told them the news that my luggage hadn't showed up and they were stunned. There was some idle chit chat and such as we were leaving Nashville! Now, I must tell you that I really like Karen. She and Barb talked about artists and stuff, they were finally pulling me into conversations I guess trying to make me forget about the damned luggage! Now, I also must tell you, I really like Barb! The trip home from Nashville turned out to be one of the best nights of my life! It was just a girls night out I guess! We talked about boob jobs, husbands, hell I don't know what else, but it just felt good. Then we stopped in Clarksville to eat and ended up on some kind of adventure taking a tour of the town! We finally had to stop and ask directions to get where we wanted to go, but, had a good laugh about the "direction giver" also. We stopped at Chili's to eat and everyone of us got carded!! Woohoo! How much fun is that?!! We talked and laughed throughout dinner and then finally made it back to Paducah about 10:00 in the evening. I was exhausted! Dude from the airport called me to tell me that dude from the courier service would be calling me to ask directions to my house. I didn't sleep at all that night waiting for his call. He never did call, I must have dozed a little, but my luggage was on my front porch when I woke to prepare myself for work the next morning! Hallelujah!

WHILE IN IDAHO

I didn't take many pictures, but acquired some! Some people say that I look a lot like Mother! What do you all think?
Then I realized that none of the kids in our family look alike! What do ya'll think?

This is my brother's headstone! Couldn't find the picture that I scanned to have it inset on the headstone. But, I figured since it was Memorial Day, I may as well post it instead.
That's all for now folks! Sweet Dreams!

Monday, May 12, 2008

FINALLY A FEW FREE MINUTES!

OK dear readers, I know that you have been anxiously awaiting a detailed report of how my trip went, but with some consideration for you poor things that so painstakingly read this blog, I am going to have a little feature, along with my Word of the Day, and "Patience Picture", called "While in Idaho". I figure if I do it that way, I will have time to reminisce and focus more on all of the details and share more with you, rather than just rambling on and on incessantly about the whole trip all at once.
I have decided that it is really good to be home though. It's strange how you always consider one place "home", only to reach your destination and realize that somewhere completely different is now your HOME. I will always consider Idaho home, but when I got to my HOME, it was a completely humbling feeling. It's hard to explain, but hopefully something that some of you may be able to understand.
There is so much going on here right now! Mostly the anticipation of our LowerTown Arts and Music Festival. It's over Memorial Day weekend. Word has it that 80 vendors have signed up! There will be food booths, artists selling their wares, live music and all that jazz. But, what makes it so nice is that we can sit on our front porch and listen to all of the music without having to fight the crowds. Now, don't get me wrong, it's nice to wander the streets and see people, but, there's no place like home! That's my funny for the day! It's pretty bad when you get to the point that you can't stand to wander about 2 blocks away! Maybe I am getting phobic or something. EEK!
WORD OF THE DAY: CHUFF
–noun 1. a rustic.
2. a boor; churl.
3. a miserly fellow.
PATIENCE PICTURE: SEE WHILE IN IDAHO

WHILE IN IDAHO
OK, so while I was in Idaho my whole family, well, the ones that were there ate at numerous restaurants! My brother told me about a new place called Oakey's. When Samantha and her family arrived, we all decided to eat there. It was such a cool place. Just a glorified burger joint actually! Sports stuff on the walls, guitars on the walls, record albums posted all over the bathroom walls, it was just way cool. While looking at the menu, Dustin, Samantha's true love, noticed a 20 ounce burger. He just knew that he could tackle it with no problem! The served it with a pound of hand cut fries, yes, made from IDAHO potatoes, on a trash can lid that had been turned upside down!
I told Dustin that I would give him $5 if he could eat all of it! He made a good stab at it! But, ended up taking some home in a go box!
A good time was had by all, and no one left hungry! Now here is one of the funniest pictures that I took while I was in Idaho.