Friday, September 28, 2012

Friday Frivolousness


  • I am now a licensed Tennessee driver, have a Tennessee car tag and have registered to vote.  Y'all watch out.
  • There is a full moon tomorrow that has some astrologers sending out warnings.  I am heeding them, and my daughter now calls me a wiccan.
  • There is a great article in today's paper about my brother's property.  I hope to have my real estate license soon, so come on down here.  We could have a lot of fun;)  A lot.
  • I went to a tea the other day where a royal butler served us.  It was straight out of Downton Abbey.  Without the Abbey.  Or the clothes.
  • This coming bacon shortage has me a little scared.  I might need to hoard.
  • Oh my.  Real Housewives of Miami.
  • Coconut oil.  I have it in every room now.  All three of them;)
  • I am a big fan of the sentence fragment.  Big fan.
  • In seven sleeps, my babies will be here.  So happy about that.
  • Well, I am going to lay in some supplies and hunker down for this scary moon.  What are you doing this weekend?  Come on, tell this old wiccan.
EDIT:  Added a link for Annie.  A description of the September 29 full moon.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Word-Filled Wednesday

Being back home in Franklin has been an exercise in revisiting every emotion I can name.  I wake up every morning and look out at the rolling foothills I have missed for 30 years.  I can take my sweet Dora for a walk at the family farm where I can inhale the comforting and clean air.  I also have bouts of "What was I thinking?"  This is when I allow myself to wallow in the memories of my Connecticut life.  My friends there.  (Hi!  I miss you!)  My established life.

I moved to New York City in the Spring of 1982.  Thirty years ago.  I built a life on the East Coast.  A Big Life.  And here, the life is not so big.  Yet.  But I am not the least bit stymied by this.  I do have my moments of longing, but they are being eased by my reconnections here.

Ingelein and I became best friends when we were 9.  We shared many misadventures and great, fun  times.  A lot of these events will go to our graves with us because that's just the way it is with someone you've spent so much time doing so many things with.  You know those Facebook sayings about best friends and how they will come burn your diaries if you die?  That's how Ingelein and I were.  Then I moved, and we both got on with our lives and raising our children.  We kept up through Christmas cards and Happy Birthday's!  But it's difficult.

We are now busy making up for lost time.  And while she lives three hours away, she spends a lot of time here because her mother and a daughter are nearby.  And this past Saturday, we all got together for an evening of good food, wine, dancing, and general frolicking in our finest duds at the Heritage Ball.  If you click on the link, you will see Ingelein's mother (89 year-old Inge Smith) dancing with her 'friend' Bill!  "Miss Inge" was the Headmistress of our grammar school; I could write a book about that, but I digress.
Ingelein and Lauren

In 1977, if you do the math, that is 35 years ago, when we were seniors in high school, Ingelein and I were hostesses at this soiree.  We may have a few of those grave-taking stories from that night, but I'm not saying anything else about that one.  We have both been back a handful of times since then, but not at the same time.  Until Saturday.  It was magical.  It was one of the most beautiful parties I have ever been to, and I am still smiling.  I was really home.

I am sitting here this morning, looking out at those hills, and I feel content.  I miss parts of my Connecticut life, and at the same time, I feel more connected here each day as well.  Life really is a journey, no?


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

iStream of Consciousness:



I want some of Mr. Jefferson's popcorn beer.

And I have a little iPhone envy.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Monday Morning Mashup


  • I hope the weather is as beautiful where you are as it is out my window this morning.
  • I had a wheat and sugar-fueled weekend.  It was really fun, but I am paying for it today.
  • Sweet potato cheesecake may be the best thing ever.
  • Is it me, or are the football games all wonky this year?
  • In 11 sleeps, my babies will be here for a visit!
  • The morning "news" programming is dreadful.
  • Has anyone watched "Homeland"?  I've never heard of it.  Wonder if it's on Hulu.
  • I am going to flip my closet over to fall/winter this afternoon.  That means it will be scorching hot by Friday.
  • I have a feeling this is going to be a great week.
  • What's your day look like?

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

This n That Thursday


  • What do you think about giving dogs probiotics all the time?
  • I am addicted to hibiscus tea.
  • Is there anything better than a new bra?
  • People are already getting their flu shots down here.  I always waited til around Halloween.  What do you do?
  • Has anybody else seen this commercial?  The shoulder dip, the dog, the music.  All of it. Just tickles me to death.
  • I also have some new Spanx.
  • Guess who's getting all gussied up this weekend for an event?
  • I have my final real estate class test tomorrow.  And I hope to take the state test within the next week.
  • I'm nervous.
  • But not so nervous that some of us haven't already planned a celebration.
  • Here is my niece and my brother last weekend; she was a junior class attendant on the homecoming court:
Have I mentioned how happy I am down here?

Fully Tennessee-fied:


Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday Musings


  • Is it just me, or was this weekend a really fast one?
  • It is a rainy, rainy day here in middle Tennessee.
  • I am fixin' to take Dora to Paw Pals for her day of fun.
  • And then I get to go start my second week of real estate class.
  • I did fine on my test Friday.
  • To celebrate, I took myself out for a glass of wine, some deviled eggs and some sugar bacon. Y'all.
  • I had dinner last night with one of my oldest friends.  We had a wonderful time.
  • I hope you have a wonderful day, that's my plan;)

Thursday, September 13, 2012

This n That Thursday


  • "Keep Calm & Carry On" is one of my favorite quotes.  I am not a fan of all the other versions.  The other day, I saw "Keep Calm & Chive On."  Really?
  • The experts are saying that the full moon on September 29 is going to be a bad one.
  • Better check your plans.
  • I have another art class tonight.  We are painting birds!
  • Tomorrow, I have a test in my real estate licensing class. I'm nervous.
  • Who's ordering the iPhone 5 tomorrow?  Not me.
  • Dora acts like she cannot hear me half the time.  Unless I pull some turkey out of the fridge, then she comes running.  Seriously, the sound of aluminum foil is magic.
  • Does anyone know when Season 3 of Downton Abbey is going to start?
  • They are filming a new television show called Nashville here and are always looking for extras.  Hmmmm.
Have a great day!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Hump Day Haiku

i hope your wednesday
is a seamless day of bliss
and a happy ride
out my front window this past Sunday

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Mama gets a tutorial:

I should go see if they need help at the local Genius Bar.
not

Monday, September 10, 2012

Monday

new vistas today
for dog and human alike
please wish us good luck


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

This 'n That Thursday

Settling in as a new redneck:
  • I am 99.9% sure that Dora and I encountered a mountain lion last week.
  • There is also a bobcat nearby.
  • And a pack of coyotes.
  • The sharks at Cape Cod are starting to look downright benevolent.
  • I am seriously thinking about getting a pistol.
  • And a cute holster.
  • Dora hates thunder storms.
  • A woman told me I had an accent the other day.
  • That's funny, because I always had an accent while I live in Connecticut.
  • All of this has made me feel a little discombobulated.
  • But not as much as cheering for the Giants around here.
  • The job interview last week was not for me.
  • I hope to do some serious networking soon.  With a heavy accent.  Of some sort.
  • We had a storm last night that scared even me.  Dora was on my lap the whole time.
  • Tonight, my nephew has a Thursday Night Lights game.  On TV.  I'm going.  It will be 90 degrees at kickoff. Go BGA!
  • And the opposing team has an amazing band and dancers.  I'll bring my camera.
  • I love it here.

Hump Day Haiku

it's been a while since
we have been graced with shauna
and her magic shoes


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

More shopping with The Bird.
I don't think she really needs my advice, though.
sigh