Nat's Place

Ten Years - Feels Like Forever and Just Yesterday

2011-04-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

She was “Mary Pauline” until college, when someone put just “Mary” on her dorm room door to welcome her to freshman year. That was it, and she was Mary through her adult life. To me she was Mom, and now for some reason she’s Mama in my mind. Today it has been ten years since she died. Several years ago, at the suggestion of my aunt, I tried to start celebrating her life on her birthday, July 18, instead of today (April 1). It didn’t always work out as planned, but I tried. Ten years, though, feels like a milestone - like forever and just yesterday. It feels like just yesterday because some days I still can’t believe she’s not here. But it feels like forever because so much has happened in those ten years.

I can vividly remember those last months in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at UAB and Shelby and me running through the hospital to get to her bedside with our family. I can also picture the two of us in New Orleans for a conference that we planned for her business, Reed Marketing Group. We went to K. Paul’s and the Palace Cafe for dinners and Cafe Du Monde for breakfast. I’ve been to NOLA several times, but when I think of that city, that trip with Mama is what comes to mind. I can picture her on the front porch of our Riverchase house, either swinging or lounging on the white wicker furniture. I can remember her and my aunts tipsy and laughing up a storm, drinking a “Diver” at Silky O’Sullivan’s on Beale after Shelby’s college graduation. Summer nights when we were kids on Mtn. Creek Trail, Mama and the other moms would walk up and down our street by the light of the gas lamps (yes, really gas lamps at every house on our street) while we played “ghost in the graveyard” or “kick the ball.” It all feels like yesterday, even if it was ten, fifteen, or twenty-five years ago.

But so much has happened in the last ten years that it also feels like forever. Shelby, Nick, and I all completed college and graduate programs. Shelby and Nick married wonderful people. Shelby and Mike have two beautiful children. We all moved away from our home in Riverchase and bought homes of our own. Dad remarried, and we have expanded our circle of family and friends with the addition of Susan, Peyton, and Parker. It’s crazy to think of how much things have changed.

Mama would be fifty-nine this year, and I sometimes think of what things would be like if she was alive. We had a pretty good relationship when she passed away - not perfect, we had our ups and downs, for sure, but pretty good. What would it be like now? Would she be getting on my nerves all the time? Vice versa? :-) Would she be worried about my health, job, love-life? I know she would be thrilled to be a grandma and spoil Shelby’s babies. Would she be “aging-gracefully” or freak out about getting closer to sixty? (I don’t think sixty is old at all, but let’s be real - Mama was a bit dramatic and a worrier!)

I guess this is all to say I miss my mom. What I would love is to hear/see in the comments or a note what you remember about her or a favorite memory of her. Thanks for helping me honor her.

Apple Picking

2010-12-03T12:12:00.000-06:00

The past few years I've tried to start my own tradition of going to visit Shelby & co. in September. It's just about the perfect time to be in New England - at the tail-end of summer, starting to get cool and fall-ish, and time for apples in the orchards. This year many family members came because of the baptism of Jack and Mary, so we had a great crowd for apple picking. We like to visit Russell Orchards in Ipswich, Mass. You take a hayride on a bio-diesel tractor out to the orchards, purchase a bag, and wander the orchard filling your bag with a variety of apples. Russell Orchards also has a great store and bakery where they make and sell fresh cider donuts - they are almost my favorite thing about going apple picking, and I can't leave the farm without having one!

Lovely Mary had a diaper blowout and had to be changed in the middle of the orchard.

Jack's cousin Ben (& Jen & Adam) joined us to pick apples.

Papa helping Jack try a tart apple.

Mike and Nick can't hold out any longer and have to check the football scores.

We got a lot of apples, and later that night made a delicious Paula Deen apple crisp! Yum!

Baptism

2010-12-03T11:48:00.000-06:00

On a beautiful Fall weekend in September, my family gathered in New England to welcome Jack and Mary into the family of God. My sister-in-law Kathy said she always cries at child baptisms because it shows that God claims us even before we know God. Which, of course, made all of us cry, too. It was a great service and a wonderful day filled with family and friends.

Mary Katherine Thompson

2010-12-03T11:24:00.000-06:00

On my brother's birthday, May 26th, 2010, we welcomed my niece Mary into the world. I flew up to see my sister that day, and Mary was born while I was in the air. She is a beautiful girl who looks just like Jack did when he was born.

Here is the new family together:

Poverty - Move Your Feet

2009-04-30T21:54:00.005-05:00

At the end of a forwarded email, there was this line:

Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to MOVE your Feet

One of the things on which we are called to move our feet is helping those in need, particularly those who are living in poverty. To me, poverty means living without the means to supply basic needs; people who live without shelter or safe access to water and a regular availability of food; people who for personal or societal reasons are unable to provide for themselves &/or their children. In the Birmingham area (Ala.), homelessness is a bigger issue than people in the surrounding suburbs might ever realize. In 2000, in Jefferson County, in which are located Birmingham and most of the metropolitan area, 14.8% of the population was living below poverty level.

Thankfully there are people who care. For example, there is Cooper Green Mercy Hospital, a hospital in the center of the city, where they offer "high quality health care without regard to ability to pay" (from Cooper Green's mission statement). Within the last year, my church, Southminster Presbyterian (PCUSA), has partnered with the Church of the Reconciler (UMC), Greater Birmingham Ministries, and Cooper Green Mercy Hospital on a program we call "Meals for Meds." At Cooper Green, homeless and indigent patients must purchase a $5 health care card (one time only) to receive care and pay a $5 copay for medication at the hospital pharmacy. "Meals for Meds" is a program to help those who cannot even afford those small copays. Periodically the church will host special lunches, suppers, and even a Valentine's concert and dessert to raise funds to contribute to the Cooper Green Pharmacy, specifically to pay for health care cards and prescription copays for the homeless. The hope is that this program (or others like it) will spread to other area churches.

Through acts large and small, our faith community is moving its feet. Locally and half-way across the world, we are moving in mission and ministry to help the impoverished. High-school youth spend a Saturday working for Habitat. Women crochet necklaces to raise money for the education of children in the Congo. Congregations build partnerships and supply clean, sustainable water through Living Waters for the World. A church plows acres of its property to grow produce for local food pantries and shelters. Youth and adults advocate for the relief of poverty worldwide. Small steps and large, we are asking God for guidance - and moving our feet.

Back in the Blogging Groove

2009-04-30T21:53:00.002-05:00

What with school, work, and, well, life I have not updated my blog in a while. I will get back in the groove beginning with a post for Presbyterian Bloggers Unite: Poverty. Up next.

John Nicholas "Jack" Thompson

2009-02-16T16:10:00.002-06:00

I'm so thrilled to have my new nephew Jack. I have to wait a couple of weeks to see him in person, but hopefully there will be lots of pictures from Shelby & Mike, Dad, and Nick (who get to go there before I do.) So, here's Jack Thompson - 6 lbs., 13 oz. and 18 in. What a cutie!

2009 - New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-10T17:09:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! I'm really excited about all of the possibilities of 2009, and I can't wait to see what life will bring. So...

I resolve to spend more time with family and friends on a regular basis, not just special occasions.
I resolve to improve my financial responsibility.
I resolve to go through life compassionately; I will become more involved in organizations and people that are positive and help those in need.

I hope everyone has a fantastic 2009!

Give Blood!

2008-12-23T15:32:00.003-06:00

A couple of months ago, the LifeSouth Bloodmobile was at the Hoover Public Library. I'm O+ (can give to all ABO + blood groups) so I decided to go ahead and give when I came out of the library. While I was there, they asked if I would pledge to give again in December, after the 8 week break you have to take between donations. I said, "Sure." They called about a month later to set up my December appointment. Since I had given through apheresis before and it doesn't seem to make me as lightheaded as giving whole blood, I said that I would do that - just give platelets. If you don't know what apheresis is:

Apheresis (pronounced ay-fer-ee-sis) is a Greek word meaning “to separate” or “to take away.” In this process, blood is collected from the donor’s arm and then separated into different components in a special machine designed for this purpose. The components that are needed are reserved and the other components are returned to the donor.

Apheresis can be used to collect any blood component. Most often it is used to collect platelets - the component that is essential for blood clotting.

So basically you have a needle in each arm, they take blood from one arm, spin out the platelets, and put the rest back in the other arm. It takes between 1-2 hours, but you get to watch a movie if you want. The upside is you can give platelets every 2 weeks, and for me, I don't get as loopy as when I give whole blood. Platelets have to be used within five days of donation, and they help people with bleeding disorders caused by leukemia and cancer treatment, or open-heart surgery. You can also choose to just give plasma or red cells.

Anyway, I tried to go do the apheresis the last two Sundays, but BOTH times my hemoglobin/iron level was too low. It has to be at a certain level before they will let you give at all. So I'm going to go try again at the end of January.

Since, I couldn't give this month, please GO GIVE BLOOD! They need all types, and the LifeSouth building is really easy to find. Giving whole blood doesn't take that long, and wouldn't it feel great to save a life?
GO GIVE BLOOD!!

Baby Shower!

2008-11-25T12:31:00.002-06:00

Last night, eleven wonderful women and I hosted a baby shower for my sister Shelby. Many of our friends and family joined us for an evening of barbecue and baby gifts. Nick and Kathy came down before heading to Indianapolis for Thanksgiving, and my Grandma and Grandpa were able to come from Virginia to stay through Thanksgiving. Shelby's husband Mike wasn't able to come to Birmingham this time, but we took lots of pictures and gave him an update after the shower. It was so great to have everyone together to celebrate this special time and future Baby Thompson!

Sidewalk

2008-10-24T17:22:00.002-05:00

Ten years of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. I can't believe it has been that long. Erin and I went to the first one back in 1998. Thanks again to Erin for inviting me this year! First we met up at Java and Jams, a neat little coffee shop downtown, for a bite to eat and a chance to catch up. Then we headed over to the Harbert Center for our first show, I Think We're Alone Now. This was a documentary feature about two fans - obsessed fans - of the pop singer Tiffany. We got to know quite a bit about these two fans, including the deeper issues affecting both people that contributed to their obsessiveness of this pop star. Really, it just made me so sad. There were people in the theater laughing through parts of this film, but I could only feel sad for these two and the state of their lives.

From there we moved from one fanatic documentary to another, albeit more lighthearted, called Rock-afire Explosion. Raise your hand if you remember the Rock-afire Explosion. Think Showbiz Pizza Place. The Rock-afire Explosion was the animatronic band that played and entertained in the eating area at Showbiz. There are folks out there who not only have some nostalgia for the times when they got to go to Showbiz and see the great show, but who have become what you might call extreme fans and collectors of Rock-afire Explosion items. Many of them now own and maintain their own Rock-afire Explosion shows. The film introduces us to some of them and gives a little background about the show and the company. Here is a trailer for the documentary:

Here is a video of one of the fans' modern Rock-afire Explosion shows:

After both of the fan documentaries Erin had to go home, but I stayed to see the end of Jump!, a movie about competitive jump rope, and Crawford. Crawford was pretty interesting. It was a movie about Crawford, TX from the residents' points of view. The filmmakers interviewed residents and followed many of the changes the town has gone through since the Bush family came to town.

I wish that I could have gone to the festival on Sunday because it seems like most of the best films were shown that day. Well, next year I'll just plan better so I can attend all weekend!

Anne of Green Gables

2008-09-21T16:25:00.004-05:00

How did I never read these great books by L.M. Montgomery as a child or adolescent?!? I've just finished listening to the audiobook for Anne of Green Gables, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anne (most definitely spelled with an 'e') is a wonderful, sweet, clever, imaginative girl. She comes to live at Green Gables (in a small town on Prince Edwards Island, Canada) as an orphan at the age of about 11. She is extremely imaginative and talkative, and she and her friends frequently get into scrapes and adventures. The characters are wonderful, the language is vivid and fanciful, and the story is endearing. If you haven't ever picked up this book, go get it at the library today. I have just reserved the sequel Anne of Avonlea audiobook, and I can't wait to go pick it up!

Catching Up

2008-08-13T19:47:00.004-05:00

Before I really get going, I'm watching the synchronized diving and holy cow, the Chinese are freaking amazing.

Anyway, I have not written all summer. Now there is probably a lot I could have written about, but I didn't because, well, there's been a lot going on! To begin:

Nat Gets Fit Update
Well, of course I'm a complete and total slacker. I have not eaten correctly or exercised all summer. No joke. But, today is a new day and the Olympics are on. This is relevant, wait for it. Also, I just finished listening to Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock [will review later]. In it this high school farm-girl trains a quarterback during the summer - there is much discussion of hard work, etc. So as I was listening I was thinking how I don't like to work hard (ok, who likes it, right?) and I let that stop me so many times instead of just pushing through. Then of course the Olympics are happening, and these athletes are amazing. You probably wouldn't have ever thought of me as an athlete, but I kind of did think of myself as athletic in high school. I always danced instead of playing sports, but I thought that if I had tried something like volleyball I could have been passable. I was always fairly strong and flexible with good coordination. I never liked to run. Nowadays I can barely touch my toes sitting and, when I tried, could manage all of ten push-ups --from the counter--not even on-your-knees-girl-push-ups. I did try though, which should be noted. Actually, I took Kip out for a walk this evening, and I have to say that I had forgotten how good it can feel to do something. So I thought that if these Olympians can work hard for years to get where they want to be, surely I can work hard to reach my - admittedly less exalted - goal. So, baby steps. Hard baby steps. I will do some sort of hard physical work every day for the rest of the Olympics. Now I know this would be better if I had said it at the beginning of the Olympics or even if I had said every day, but like I said - baby steps. I think I'm going to go to Weight Watchers again, too, because goodness knows I probably need professional help to do this. Anyway, on to other topics. I have a...

New Job
I am not going to teach this year! I probably sound too excited about that. There are things that I miss about teaching, but it is very nice to have a change. I am now the Interim Administrative Assistant at the Presbytery of Sheppards & Lapsley. I get to be in the middle of all kinds of things going on with the larger church, meet new people, and hone my data entry/newsletter writing/web page upkeep/mass mailing/phone answering/problem solving skills. Good times! Also I am...

Back in School
This summer I enrolled in the Masters of Library and Information Sciences (MLIS) program at the University of Alabama. (gasp!, i know) Bama has the only MLIS program in the state that is accredited by the American Library Association. There are other schools where you can take classes toward School Library Media Specialist Certification (which is my primary goal), but I also wanted to be able to get a public library job if the opportunity arises. Plus, for job hunting I think it's just better to have the Masters. So I took my first class this July. That's right a semester's worth of work in just five weeks - talk about intense! It was Research Methods and we had about seven assignments that basically amounted to writing a research proposal by the end of the course. I swear I almost quit halfway through, but decided I couldn't afford to just lose that money. So I saw it through, and although I don't have my grade yet, I think it will be okay. In the fall I will be taking two classes, one about instructional methods on four weekends and one about technology every Tuesday night. They start in about a week and a half, and I'm pretty excited. I guess I'm hoping they'll be a little more fun than Research Methods, although I did learn a lot. Now, in order to get a little closer to T-town and my new job in Hoover, I'm...

Putting My House on the Market
Yes, moving. I hope. Sometime. In the next year. As we all know, the market is not exactly seller-friendly right now. I have had a couple of people come see the house, but no bites yet. Surely some college student/recent grad/young family/empty nesters need a little house on a golf course with a fenced yard near some horse farms. Right? If you know of anyone who wants/needs to move to Montevallo, let me know. If you want to check out the listing, here's the MLS number: 398996 It's listed for $129,900 which is a great deal in my neighborhood, Fairview. See if this link works http://www.remax-alabama.com/remaxal/modules/internet/search/includes/mapsearch/listingpopup.asp?mlsid=325&mlsnumber=398996&l=y to see pictures, etc.

Well that's most of the news for now. I will try to be more consistent with my future posts.
Love to all!

Beach Musings & Goals

2008-05-28T15:41:00.004-05:00

It's the last full day of our beach vacation. I have been sitting on the beach under a tent feeling the breeze and watching the ocean. As minds are wont to do, my wanders until it latches on to a steady stream of thought... Nick's wedding will be here in about 10 months...my knees have been hurting a lot lately...I don't want to be this heavy at another family event...I know I can help my knees get stronger if I lose 60 lbs and strengthen my leg muscles...60 lbs. seems like a lot, how can I break that down and keep myself motivated?...a good place to start is 10% of your body weight, but I don't like the mid number 18...I could probably do 15 lbs. at a time...what if I could give myself a spa day after I lose each 15 lbs.?... I could pay myself $10 for every pound I lose, that would be $150 when I reach the 15 lb. goal...That wouldn't get a spa day, but it would buy a new outfit &/or a spa treatment...how long would it take?...at 2 lbs. per week I could give myself about 8 weeks...Okay, my birthday is in a couple of months, that would work...I'll pay myself instead of a diet program, get spa days and new clothes, be fit, and be thinner for the wedding...15 lbs. at a time...OK, good plan, how do I stick to it...post it on my blog and ask for help!...Also, put each $10 bill in a see through pocket on a chart in my kitchen so I can see the spa day materialize, go ahead and reserve a spa treatment for my birthday, but not go if I don't meet my goal...research and make daily menus that work for me...walk the dog!...start to stretch & strengthen...
So..."Nat Gets Fit" Plan:

Phase I Goal - Lose 15 lbs. by July 26, 2008
Walk the dog 20-30 min. twice a day at least 5 days/wk.
Eat nutritious meals at home (allowed to eat out 2x/wk - to all of you fitness buffs that's really good for me)
Stretch & Strengthen 3x/wk

As I said before - I need help! I've set up a special email just for this - natgetsfit@yahoo.com So, send me anything you can about getting fit, eating healthily, cheap fitness places/workouts. Also, send me encouragement and positive vibes! I need to do this for my health and self-esteem, and now is the perfect time to start.

I'll keep you posted! (And I'll post other beach photos, etc. later.)

Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-18T11:54:00.009-05:00

This is a little late, but I was thinking about it on Mother's Day...

MARY - I have been missing my mom lately. This spring it has been 7 years since she passed away from lymphoma. A lot has changed in all of our lives since then, and some days I just wish I could talk to her about them. I went to visit mom's sisters Bonnie and Dorothy during Spring Break a couple of months ago. It was so great to see them and just hang out. We are all happy with our lives and happy in general, but I couldn't help but feel like there is a lingering feeling of grief in us. I guess it's just the sadness of missing someone that gets brought home when we get together.

Anyway, my mom was a great mom! Of course we had our ups and downs when I was growing up (mostly due to my adolescent orneriness), but mom was always super supportive of everything I did. She and Dad drove me back and forth to dance lessons, while Shelb and Nick were busy at the ball fields. She came to Auburn and spent time with me and my sorority sisters - even helped with Rush every year! She and Dad welcomed me home after college and hired me to help with her business. That's probably when I got to know Mom best as a person. (And I learned that I get my procrastination and tardiness honestly! Okay, she wasn't nearly at my level, but she did push the envelope of lateness pretty regularly.) It was fun to watch her in action with her business, though. She was so good at event planning - a master of the details - and you could tell she had fun doing it, too!

Most of all, mom loved. She loved us and Dad; she loved her sisters, brother, nieces and nephews; she loved her in-laws; she loved her friends; she loved having fun; she loved life. And we love her.

SUSAN - So, 4 years after Mom passed away, Dad remarried. I'm not gonna lie, it was a bit hard. But life changes for everyone, whether you're 65 or 25, and I am so glad that Dad found someone like Susan. Susan is a great mom to her boys, Peyton and Parker. You can tell that they love and respect her by the way they interact, and you can watch them for 5 minutes and know that she raised them with fun and love - but she is no pushover!

Susan has been a great friend to me and Shelby and Nick. She keeps up with what is going on in our lives, and is always willing to talk, hang out, or give advice. I'm glad we have her and the boys in our lives.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Country Living

2008-05-04T21:21:00.006-05:00

It's days like today that really make me appreciate where I live. On beautiful mornings like this one it doesn't matter that it takes about 40 minutes to get anywhere from my house. (OK, not anywhere, but it does feel like that sometimes)

This morning after my dog tried to get me up at 6:50 am - Why doesn't he realize it's NOT a school day??? - and I went back to sleep, I did get up at about 9:00 and decided we both needed a walk. He's looking a little bit heftier these days and Lord knows I need the exercise. So I put him on the leash and we headed out. My neighborhood is just off a road with a couple of large horse farms on it, with a golf course on the other side. Here's a sweet view looking over the pastures for the horse farms.

So, Kip and I are walking along the golf course side (opposite of this pasture) and I notice some wild honeysuckle. I love the scent of honeysuckle, and if I am ever around some, I like to do what we did as kids: pinch the end off and slowly pull until you get that delicious drop of nectar. Of course I had to have some! Well, while we were over by the honeysuckle I noticed a couple of horses come up along the fence. One was white and one kind of palomino-looking with white and brown, then an all-brown one came up, too. I always love when the horses come up to the fence - they don't always, but occasionally they will - but I haven't ever petted one of them before. The only time I've ever ridden a horse was as a child at Camp Hargis, and of course, as a child, I had very little fear of them. Today as I walked up with Kip, the white horse put his head over the fence and reached out to sniff me, so I took up the courage to pat him on the nose. (It seems like you would not need a lot of courage to do this, but horses do bite, and these horses do not know me from Adam, so I don't really know their temperament.) It seemed not to mind, and the other horse stuck its head over the fence for some patting, too. You know, until you're right up next to one, you don't really think about what a LARGE animal it is. I mean they were perfectly sweet, but large nonetheless. So I decided "this has been cool, but we should really keep walking 'cause Kip is a little nervous and I need to get ready for church." Kip and I started walking along the fence and I heard this clop-clopping behind me. I turned around and laughed out loud - the horses were following Kip and I along the fence! I wish someone with a camera had been around, because I can only imagine what it must have looked like! There was a witness to the event. A woman driving down the road noticed and slowed down to comment about my walking partners. Since I didn't have a camera then, I did the next best thing: as I was on my way to church I stopped to snap a picture of the horses who were my walking buddies. (The white one was back in the shade of the trees by that time.)

The Artist in Me

2008-05-04T00:10:00.009-05:00

You know, I think I took one art class in high school my freshman year. After that my schedule just got too full with other "stuff." I've always liked to do crafty stuff, though. I occasionally crosstitch and scrapbook, I tried to teach myself how to knit, and I've enjoyed the few times I've painted pottery. Now I'm in love with going to Sips-N-Strokes. The basic idea is that you sign up for a class with a painting you'd like to try, you bring your own beverage, and they provide the supplies and instruction. I'd been hearing about it from various friends for a couple of years now, but I finally went to my first class in March. It was the Woman on the Beach (yep, that's mine).

Now, my girl is a bit curvier than the example was, but I like her. I'm planning on giving this one to my grandparents, but I haven't got it in the mail yet.

Tonight I went to my second class. I've been having Spring Fever lately, and frankly my 1st graders have been driving me a bit batty. So on Thursday I remembered how relaxed and pleased I felt as I was painting back in March, so I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for another class. What's really great is that Sips-N-Strokes puts up a calendar for each location showing which paintings they will be doing. The one for today, Saturday, was an ocean scene that I really liked. (I am more than ready for our Memorial Day trip!) I have been in a "beachy" state of mind for a few weeks now, so I thought it would be a great one to paint.

One of the things that makes this so fun, is the other people in the class. Today there was a birthday party group there and also some other pairs. The birthday goers were hilarious! They kept commenting on their own or their friends work, telling each other to "take a sip before you stroke," and even teasing one friend about being the "teacher's pet." It was all in good fun, and they made me laugh out loud a couple of times with their comments.

It's also great to see your work come alive and know that you did it. I just love putting something on canvas or paper that comes out (mostly) how I thought it should. It's so easy to get absorbed in what you're doing and just forget about all the other stressfull stuff. When you're thinking about mixing just the right color or trying to make just the right waves or windows, you cannot be thinking about lesson plans or wild children or rude customers. What a relief! As the instructor said, it's supposed to be a stress-free environment, so you can't worry about if your painting is perfect or if it looks different from everyone else's. In fact, that's one of the cool things: getting to see everyone's paintings and noticing how different they all are - even when you're all painting the same thing!

Now I haven't just been sticking to acrylics these days. A few months ago I was randomly inspired to buy a sketchpad and some colored pencils. Then, of course, I didn't use them for quite a while. Well as I said, I've been feeling beachy lately, so a couple of weeks ago I picked up the paper and pencils and attempted to sketch out our Memorial Day beach setup. The past several years we have stayed at a house called Margaritaville, and it was just fantastic. Unfortunately this year we couldn't get that house so we will be staying a bit down the beach in two houses - Magnolia Hill and Dragon Fish. The best thing about this trip to the beach isn't where we stay, but the people we're with, so I decided to call my drawing "Some Beach, Somewhere" (ok, it's from a country song, but it fits). I decided that's my own personal theme for our trip, because it doesn't matter where we are really - as long as it's somewhere on a beach with our friends.

Reed all about it

2008-04-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I've enjoyed reading many of my friends' blogs recently, so I decided to just jump right in. Who knows how often I'll actually get on to post...I'm definitely a once-every-three-years journaller. But, I feel like I'd like to have an outlet of some kind for crazy ideas, good books, procrastination lamentations, and just general good (or bad!) times.

Like now, it's 11:05 pm and I need to go to bed. I stayed up until 2:30 am yesterday reading - yes on a school night, but I hardly ever do that anymore!! So now I'm doubly tired. The book was Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber. It is brand new and one of her Blossom Street books. I got hooked on those with A Good Yarn, and I really enjoyed the new one. I think I might try some of her other series at the beach in a few weeks. She is going to be doing a book signing at the Books-A-Million at Brookwood Village on Saturday. I'd like to go, but it's not looking hopeful right now.

Okay, I have a lot more I would like to post right now, but I have GOT to go to bed!