Chucky's Creepy Canopy

It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend for a 20th college reunion. I absolutely love making the pilgrimage back to my alma mater for a weekend of festivities. There was a lot of squealing, hugging, reminiscing, picture taking, and endless laughing!




I spent the weekend with a group of friends at a local Bed and Breakfast. The house was absolutely amazing and the grounds were beautiful in their Spring colors:




However, I had a couple of issues with ye ol' creepy Southern mansion!

EXHIBIT A: After my arrival, I made my way upstairs to the room I would be staying in all weekend. I immediately noticed these items sitting directly across from my room:



For whatever reason, this miniature doll play area absolutely gave me the creeps! I mean, seriously, check out the picture on the wall. Based on the bow alone, I'd swear that is Nellie Olsen's evil twin. Never mind the CREEPY doll she's holding in the photo. *shiver*



I'm not completely crazy because one of my friends said it reminded her of the Chucky movies of days gone by. *shudder*



EXHIBIT B: Check out the "Baron's Bedroom" bed, which required a 3-step stool to get ON the thing. I felt like Edith Ann in her rocking chair, "and that's the truth!"



The first night's bedtime conversation included idle chatter about how high this bed was off the ground. When we put our heads on the pillows and looked at the canopy top, my weekend roommate asked, "oooohhhh, do you think is what the inside of a coffin looks like?"

Ummm, I *think* so! What do YOU think:

360°

That's not an oven temperature folks.....that's the name of U2's current world tour.

Last night I was THERE....in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, 10 rows up from the floor, with a perfect view. *squeal* *SCREAM*

Props to the husband for his spectacular ticket purchasing ability.

I realize just a couple of short months ago I was singing the praises of the cute little Jonas Brothers on their awesome concert. Ummm, sorry guys....last night you got trumped by Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry.


I have never been to a U2 concert before, but it was far better than any expectation I had. Their stage was a massive structure that resembled a Transformer. And the circular screen suspended beneath the behemoth was beyond impressive with all of its spectacular tricks.

From the minute U2 took the stage, the crowd was filled with excitement and electricity. We stood on our feet the entire concert.

One of us was ready for anything, if the music so moved us:

(Everyone needs the Zippo app, just in case)

However, I was certainly caught off guard as Bono broke out into the first stanza of "Amazing Grace." Which was immediately followed one of my favorite U2 songs, "Where the Streets Have No Name."


Plain and simple, the U2 360° World Tour was AWESOME! Best.Show.Ever.



If you have about 3 minutes, check out my slide show from the concert. The background song is "Magnificent", a song from their latest album which could also describe their concert.

Insanity Rules!

July 2nd was the Princess' 8th birthday! And we celebrated in style.

The theme of the day was : "Spend the night madness....where junk food and insanity rules!" I'm thinking I should have made up t-shirts as parting gifts.

For a little less than 24 hours, we had two extra 8 year old girls and one extra 10 year old boy. There were girls chasing boys and boys chasing girls. There were nekkid Barbies stuck in the basketball net and plastic spiders hidden under pillows. Oh, and I can't leave out the remote controlled whoopie cushion....every home should have one.

But most of all, we had a lot of fun!

Triple A

No, that’s not my bra size….ahem.

It is my newest nickname. If you have followed me regularly, you might remember my post on my various and sundry nicknames.

Tonight, I went with my GNO crew to a new place called Sips N Strokes. It is an instructional painting class where people sip on the drink of their choice and become one with the paint and canvas.

Tonight's painting was called “Retro Flowers”. Which really turned out to be WHIMSICAL flowers. And it quickly became quite apparent that Type A people and whimsical go together like oil and water.

My name is Tammy and I am NOT whimsical. I want things symmetrical and perfect, not free flowing and every which way.

My dear friends (love y’all) were quick to point out my need for perfection no sooner than we were slapping paint on the canvas. The instructor was quickly on to me like white on rice.

From the stage I heard:

“How you doing Triple A???” (Me wondering who she is talking to)

And then I felt eyes beaming down on me. I look up to see her pointing straight at me.

“Let me see what you’ve got done Triple A.” (Eeek, she is calling me out in front of everyone)

All I can guess is that she how now dubbed me “Triple A”, because she suspects I *might* be Type A to the third degree. Perhaps she sensed my unwillingness to embrace the whimsical spirit. Hmph!

I refocused and became one with the canvas. I decided to BE the painting. I let the brush flow freely across the canvas (are you buying this junk?).

The rest is now painting history.

Here’s me and my crew:

(Triple A got there too late for a cute apron and had to wear some old man’s HUGE shirt)

How about these WHIMSICAL flowers?!

And here’s what you came for…or not. I present to you WHIMSICAL flowers, as seen through the eyes of one Triple A, Type A, Greek girl:

Everybody needs a GNO, even un-whimsical Type A girls!

Blast to the Past

 

I had the privilege of spending this past weekend with a group of people that I have known and loved for a little over 20 years now.

It seems like yesterday all our paths converged on a little Baptist women’s college here in Alabama.

 

 

God chose Judson to bring us all together and our time there sealed our bonds of friendship forever.

This weekend was just like any other get together, we picked up right where we left of last time. The weekend was full of laughter, singing and picture taking!

Did I mention there was singing??? We got our weekend started with a little Karaoke on Friday night. We ROCKED the Bed and Breakfast we rented.

And somehow I got us all started with “Hit me with your best shot” to which those are the only words I know of that song…..oh and “fire away”.

I’d also like it duly noted Teresa and I gave a rousing rendition of “I’ve Got You Babe” as well as “We Didn’t Start the Fire”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent most of Saturday on Judson’s campus reminiscing and visiting other friends from our college days. Again there was a lot of squealing, laughing, and photo taking.

I must say one of the highlight’s of the day was a little project named Operation Flat Tasha, who was the brain child of our friend Peggy. Tasha is one of our dear friends who lives in Oklahoma and was unable to attend, but look how she came to campus:

 

Just like Flat Stanley, if any of you are familiar with that story. We took pictures with Flat Tasha ALL over campus. She was the hit of the day….people we asking us what we were doing and they all loved the idea (props to Pegs).

Here are a few photos from the day:

 

My chemistry professor, Dr. Williams

 

 

I taught Kristin horseback riding lessons when she was ten! She is now a wonderful mother of two.

 

 

Judson’s two infamous bloggers. Me and my blogging mentor, Teresa of Livin’ the Wood Life.

 

 

 

Besides visiting with all my friends, another highlight of the day was this:

This plate of goodness would be called French Silk Pie. It has been a Judson tradition since before my time. And it was just as good as ever.

 

 

 

Ok, this photo is significant because it is riddled with controversy! This handsome young gentleman would be the Biology professor of the college. I spent MANY hours with this man in lectures and lab classes. Did I mention HOURS!!

The beautiful young lady in the photo, once again is my college bff Teresa. She received her B.A. in music from Judson. Oh, and she was crowned Miss Judson in 1988.

During our lovely luncheon, I spotted Dr. Wilson and he waved and he proceeded to come back around to our table for a hug and photo op….. with TERESA! Did I mention the only reason she ever graced the science building during our college years was for movie night on the weekends or to visit yours truly—who spent HOURS in the science building.

(Teresa KNEW I would throw this in)

 

day at Judson ended with a traditional step-sing of Judson songs. It’s always the highlight of our day!

 

 

 

This year we decided to spend Saturday night too, for one more day of visiting. We spent the evening with more friends at their B&B and, again, spent a lot of time talking and laughing. Before leaving, we each shared our story of how we chose Judson those many years ago. Amazingly, many of our stories were very similar….and it was a “God thing”.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a lazy Sunday morning and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our B&B:

 

 

 

French toast, poached eggs, ham, and fresh fruit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took the time for just one more photo before we all went our separate ways again.

 

 

From the words of one of our Judson songs:

“Time made a place for us, we turned at it was gone.

Now though our days are through, the memory lingers on.”

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

--“Friends” by Michael W. Smith

Talking ‘Bout My Girl

 

Last night we rolled her hair so today she would have “big curls” in her hair.

Yesterday I found her like this:

 

Guess what she was doing?  She was looking for the Camellia SEED that she had planted a few days ago.

She wanted to see if it was growing.  All righty.  (btw, we did not find the seed)

 

 

For Valentine’s Day, her teacher helped her 2nd grade class make a “Special” Valentine’s Book.

After the statement, “I find comfort and joy in mom and dad because….”  she wrote: “you are sweet and love me and kiss me goodnight, and tuck me in bed.  At morning you wake me to go to school and feed me at breakfast, too”.

 

There were also letters written from each student to each of their classmates. 

At the top of each letter was this,

“If a man is to have friends he must show himself to be friendly”… I can share my friendship with you because you are….

 

I thought you would enjoy some of the sentences written to my Princess from her classmates!  (The teacher must have told them to write “I have noticed” because it is a recurring theme.)

 

• You are smarter than me. You have fun ieds (ideas) then me
• I have noticed you are very good at PE, Math and Fonecs
• You are the most funniest person in America
• I have noticed that you like to do gynmatics and you like to eat fries alot.
• I have noticed that you are cute and funny and you follow the dress code and a ton of other things.
• I have noticed that you are a very good friend to all your classmats
• I have noticed you are relly relly pretty at school
• I will remember you because your fun!
• I love to play with you on the monkey bars.
• I like you cause you can write better than me and you run faster than me (from a boy)
• I like how you say good stuff in stead of bad stuff.
• I have noticed that you like laughing and  going outside and playing games
• I like your art it is really good and if you sell some I will be glad to by it when I am older cause I can not drive and you are too young to sell art
• I like you best of all even when you get in trouble
• You always aked (act?) funny
• I now you forget what Mrs. H told us but I never did make fun of you (from the boy who signed it “your old boyfriend”)
• I have noticed that you like to toot. Do you want to join my toot club.  ha ha ha. just kidding (written by Bad Leroy Brown of the class)

The bottom of each letter had written, “Thank you for being my friend.  Love,”

I’m glad to see even 7-8 year old kids like my daughter for the same reasons I love her….she’s pretty, smart, funny, fun, and a good friend.

 

I’m not sure if she had help with the last page or not, but it said this:

American Girl Doll: $80.00

Barbie Scooter:  $60.00

Shot Gun: $6000.00 (HUH?)

A Lifetime with My Family:  PRICELESS

 

Oh how I love MY GIRL!

(the future veterinarian—for now)

 

Faith Under Fire

 

 

 

This is a photo of one of our friend’s home that burned on Thursday night!

The home is a total loss. 

Praise the Lord the family was able to get out of the house safely.

Unfortunately the family pets did not.

This is one of those events that make you ask, “Why God?”.  Why this family? 

They are at church every time the doors are open and involved in EVERYTHING!  This Sunday, he will be ordained as a deacon.

Without going into details, they have endured much over the last 9 months.  And now this???

Bad things do happen to good people.  Even godly people.

This family has a faith that is strong.  And now they are having to endure yet another trial.  But they know our God is bigger than ANYTHING! 

How do they know?  Just look at the message He left them:

 

 

This is a hymnal found open amidst all the rubble.  Opened to page 20, “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”!

 

Coincidence?  I think NOT.

 

Please pray for the Rucker family as they praise God during this storm.  Especially for the children as they mourn the loss of their pets. 

They lost almost everything in the fire, but not their faith.  And it will see them through!

 

Sing praise to God Who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.

It bears repeating….

Because I can be obnoxious and I now have about one hundred a few more readers than this time last year, I want to wish one of my favorite people in the world a happy birthday!

LORDY, LORDY, LOOK WHO’S 40!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

To find out more about this special friend you can click here to read my original post. Because I am too lazy to cut and paste it.

Even better click here to give her some birthday wishes from the GreekGRITS blogging “family”.

After all, I owe my entire blogging career to this chick.

Happy Birthday, friend. I love you!

Lessons from the Beach

I’m baaaack from the beach.  I got to spend some quality time with some dear friends from days gone by. 

Seems like yesterday we were 20-somethings getting ready to leave college and take our place in the world.  Time and distance has separated us.   We are now wives, mothers and professionals; yet our friendship remains the same. 

We spent hours in conversation and “catching up”.  There was a whole lot of laughter and a few tears.  Somehow we always seem to pick up where we left off.  That’s what friendship is all about.

However, this particular trip revealed some important  life’s lessons.  Get a pen handy, these are things you might want to pass on:

1.  Always, I mean always, empty your bladder before reliving funny college stories with your 40 year old friends.  Or just invest in a good Sam’s box of Depends to save yourself the trip, and embarrassment.

 

2.  If you are around the age of 40 and going on vacation, always have a box of All-Bran on the premises.  Just in case.  In the words of my friend, “you gotta have a healthy poop.”

 

3.  If riding a bike for any period of time, especially for what may seem like all day, make sure you have adequate padding, i.e. gel coated bicycle seat or some super padded cycling shorts.  Your own padding does not count!  I’m just sayin’.

 

 

4.  If you are driving on the back roads of Alabama and suddenly get the urge to take photos on a hay bale, don’t stop at the house with the Rebel flag at half-staff.  Festus may pull into the driveway as you sit atop the bale and shoot you in the butt.  Or he may laugh and drive on by.

 

 

5.  If you are driving on the interstate in Alabama and you spot a mullet of astronomical portions, and I mean one that has not graced daylight since Billy Ray Cyrus, do not attempt to take a photo of it at 70mph because no one will believe you saw it.

 

6.  If you stop off for lunch at a restaurant in middle-of-nowhere Alabama and spot someone who STRONGLY resembles your childhood Miss Beasley doll, act like you are taking photos of your friends while getting THE shot.

 

 

 

7.  If you are 40 and think you are still 18, do not attempt hand stands on the beach, you may have to sit down until the imaginary stars stop floating around your head.

 

 

 

8.  Sadly, 20 years later, your body just isn’t the same.  You might think it is.  Or, maybe yours is, then thank God.

 

9.  Never, ever, leave yourself logged into your facebook account and then fall asleep on the couch.  Your smarty-pants college pals might just change your profile picture and update your status.  Right, Amy?

 

10.  Make it a point to get together with your “old” college peeps every so often for a weekend of friendship and fun.  And make sure next year’s plans are done far enough in advance so the one’s who didn’t make it this year will be certain to make it next!

 

 

Here’s to friendship and our next get together…..