White Water Rafting

Michael has decided that he's slowly going to ease me into dangerous, outdoor activities and the first one was this past weekend...white water rafting on the Ocoee. I had heard from several people that it was a lot of fun but this was my first experience. I was a little nervous about signing the waiver that acknowledges in the event of an accident no one would be "at fault", but I figured after we drove (well, he drove) almost 2 hours to get there I couldn't back out. I'm so glad we went - it was so much fun and I would definitely do it again!
We had a fun group on our raft. One couple was from Laurel, MS and the other was from Mobile, AL. I thought that was kind of neat since I'm from MS and Michael is from AL. The guide asked if anyone wanted to "ride the bull" (sit in the front) as we were approaching some big waves. Michael volunteered. You couldn't have pushed me to the front of that boat but he is a dare-devil. It was like slow motion for me: I see the waves; we go up in the air; Michael flies to the sky; all I see is his feet; and then he's nowhere to be found. My heart stopped for a second because he didn't pop up immediately. We were all looking around trying to figure out where he was and finally he was on the left side next to me and two other people. We all just grabbed him and pulled him back in the raft. He was okay - no scrapes or bruises but he got stuck under our raft which is why he didn't pop up immediately. I suddenly remembered why I didn't volunteer...
Here are a few pics from the "bull ride":

Group shot - he's getting ready...










Hang on...









Okay, so maybe he didn't fly all the way to the sky...










Nothing but feet...










WHERE IS HE???










It was a great "first" for me - and I definitely would recommend it! We had so much fun!!

As Promised...

I have lots of pictures to post today, so bear with me as I try to get them spaced correctly. It's hard to get them exactly where you want them on here - or it is for me anyway - and I'm slightly OCD about them being spaced evenly. The past couple of weeks have been busy and I've been out of town both weekends. Both trips were great and I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a busy schedule with summer right around the corner.

The first few pictures are from a Fleetwood Mac (4/28/2009) concert that I went to with my friends, Charleston and Calvin and the "new boy" I mentioned in my last post, Michael. Calvin works for UPS and UPS has a box at Phillips Arena so we had excellent seats!

Group Shot

Our very own - Stevie Nix and Lindsey Buckingham

Michael and Me

Mother's Day - 5/10/2009

Me & my Momma after church - and stuffing ourselves at Fannin Mart...Mmmm!

Mom and Bart

Mom and Dad - I can't remember what was so funny - they are goobers!

This past weekend (5/14-17/2009) I took a trip to the beach with some of my favorite girls - Kate, and "the Amy's". We had the BEST time and got to go see Sugarland Friday night. It was by far one of the best concerts I've ever been too - and I think it's because I knew all the words. They put on a great show and Billy Currington opened for them. I would go see them again in a heartbeat!

Me, Kate, and Amy T at Live Bait before the concert

Me and Amy S - who's carrying Mary Morgan - expected arrival September 4th! Can't wait!!!

Me, Kate, and Amy T in the water - Amy S was our photographer!

It was so fun to get away and be lazy beach bums - we're already planning the next trip! Hope you enjoy the pics and have a great week!

Catching Up

Update: I started this on Sunday, but finished Tuesday, May 5th. Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!

I know, I know - I haven't posted lately. I've got to do better because I really want to keep the blog as up to date as possible so I can read back over it months from now and remember things that happened at this time in my life. So, what has been going on???

Well, I'm not going to drop any names or post pictures yet (although I do have some) but I have been seeing a new boy for the past week and he is SO nice and SO cute! I haven't been this excited about a new boy in a L-O-N-G time! It was a blind setup that I was not expecting and certainly not real excited about. More details to come soon - if he keeps me around for another week or so! :)

Work has been keeping me busier than usual, which is a welcomed change. With the economy being so rough right now and with so many people out of a job, I feel very blessed to have a good job and to work with some wonderful people. I know that not everyone is so lucky. It was a rough day today because I had to sit in on a termination. That is, hands down, the worst part about my job - and being in management in general. It never gets easier and it always makes me feel like an awful person. Thank goodness, tomorrow is a new day!

I'm headed to Jackson this weekend for Mother's Day. I can't wait to see my Mom and let her know how much I love and appreciate her. I've talked about her before, but she really is one of the wisest people I know. I would be fortunate to know her, much less to be able to call her "Mom". Bart and I are so blessed! My heart hurts for those who will be spending Mother's Day without their Mom this year. I truly cannot imagine my life without Carla - part of me would be missing.

Next weekend I'm going to the BEACH! I cannot wait!!! 3 of my friends and I are meeting in Orange Beach and we're going to see Sugarland while we're there. I love Sugarland and know most of their songs word-for-word. Gimme a break, it's a long trip back and forth to Jackson - I might as well jam out to some Sugarland along the way. I haven't been to the beach in a couple of years and it will be such a welcomed change of scenery.

I promise to post some new pics soon! Ya'll have a great week!

Alive!

It's been a few weeks since my last post, so I wanted to let all of my readers (that I talk to everyday) know that I'm still alive. I wish I could say I've been on a 3-week Caribbean vacation and too busy laying in the sun and sipping margaritas to post, but I assure you that's not the case. And, if it were, I would have totally posted just to tell you how jealous you should be!

Here's a quick re-cap of the last three weeks:

Two weekends ago was the half marathon that I had planned to run, but once I got up to 7 miles or so in my training my knee started killing me. I tend to be irrational in certain situations (those of you who agree, please keep your mouths shut) but having endured one ACL Reconstruction, common sense kicked in and I realized it was more important to be able to walk than run a race. Momma didn't raise no fool! And, what sick-o thinks it's fun to go run 13 miles? Oh wait, that was me. Several of my friends ran and they did great! Hopefully, next year my knee will cooperate and I can resume my sick-o status. :)

Last weekend, Kate's parents, God-parents, and brother were in town. Her mom's birthday was the week before so she flew her God-parents in from St. Louis as a surprise...and boy, was she! Here is a group shot minus Mr. Mike (Kate's dad) because he was taking the picture - try not to look too closely at the (dust-covered) gold "chandelier" that hangs over the dining room table. I promise the rest of the house is this dusty.

One of just us girls -

This past weekend was Easter and I headed to Jackson Thursday afternoon after work. I love going home because I get to see my family and friends, but it's just that - it's home. In anticipation of Easter weekend and what it symbolizes, my heart was just heavy all week. I could not get this song out of my head. To say that I fail and fall short every. single. day. would be a HUGE understatement, but I don't have to live in fear of my failures because Jesus bore my sin and shame...in love He came...and gave amazing grace! He's ALIVE...thank you Lord!

Great Weekend

I decided spur-of-the-moment last week that I would go home after I got off work Friday. I didn't have any real reason to go other than just wanting to. I knew the St. Paddy's Day parade was scheduled for Saturday and even though I'm from Jackson and the parade has been in existence for as long as I can remember, I'd never been. I talked to Lexie and she and Josh were planning to go so I asked if I could tag along. This is us waiting on the parade to start...










I couldn't get over how many people were there - and there were a ton of Sweet Potato Queens! It was great weather and we had a lot of fun.

Later that afternoon, I met up with Lee and her family because they were having a family get-together for her mom's 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Carol! Since I've been part of the family for the last 20 years or so, I was invited. Here's a shot of me and Lee and (one of) my baby girl's, Ella. I can't believe she's already 14 months old and running all over the place. I could just eat her up with a spoon!

I got to spend some time with my parents which I love more and more, the older I get. Bart went to Baton Rouge to take senior portraits for one of my cousins, so I only saw him for about 5 minutes. Hopefully, I'll get to see him when I go home Easter weekend.

Hope ya'll had a great weekend too! :)

Update

It's been over a week since I've "blogged", so I have a lot to catch you (3 readers) up on. Ok, "a lot" may be a slight exaggeration...
I went home (to Jackson) after work last Friday. My boss was out of the office so I skipped out a little early myself. The drive was great and I made it home in just over 5 hours. My (maternal) grandmother had been at my parent's house all week since Mom had her surgery and wasn't working. Maw Maw does not look good at all. She was up and dressed when I got there but had to go lay down within about 20 minutes. She is very weak and spends most of her days in bed. It kills me to see her like that. Maw Maw used to be the type that always had her make up on and her hair fixed just perfectly. She would have never wanted you to see her at anything but her finest. I wish there was something I could do to make her feel better but I know there's not. It broke my heart to leave her.

Saturday morning my friend, Lexie, and I did a 10-K in Vicksburg. We did it last year but somehow in those 364 days, I forgot how many hills there were. Oh my gosh! I didn't think it was ever going to be over. We took a couple of pictures - pre-race - so when I get a copy from Lex, I'll post. Saturday afternoon, Lee and I went to a Spring Market they were having in Jackson. I think it was supposed to be similar to Canton Flea Market, but most of the stuff we saw was really over-priced. Lee bought Ella a monogrammed pillow case and I didn't buy anything. That was definitely one of our quicker shopping experiences!

We went to church on Sunday and then I headed back to Atlanta soon after lunch. With daylight savings time, not only did I lose 1 hour, I lost 2 since I was back on EST. Yuck!! At least I didn't have to drive back in the dark. I heart DST, so I'll be glad to give up the one hour of sleep in exchange for more daylight (and eventually warmer temperatures).

I'm running another 10-K this weekend and hoping this one is much flatter. Kate and I are going to the outlet mall to return a few things and then we may be going with some friends to see Elton John and Billy Joel. I'm hoping Billy sings "Uptown Girl" just for me! :)

Have a great weekend!!!

Integrity...For Better or Worse

I realize that if I continue to keep up this blog long-term that I probably won't even remember who these people are, but...I feel that I must step on a soap box for just a few minutes and explain my feelings for the latest "Bachelor", Jason Mesnick. First of all, I have to admit that I have not really kept up with the Bachelor this season. Every time I've watched it from start to finish, I always get mad because they (the Bachelor/Bachelorette) never pick who I would pick if I were them. Coupled with the fact that only one relationship out of how many seasons of the show (??) have stood the test of time. So, here's to you, Trista and Ryan. Thank you for beating the odds and congratulations on your second bun-in-the-oven!

Now, back to the "most shocking season" in Bachelor history. After a 6-week, completely televised relationship with multiple women, you have to give the guy a little credit where credit is due and understand that he may be slightly confused. I wouldn't be able to remember all of their names much less choose one to be my spouse! Maybe there's an IQ test or something you have to pass in order to be on the show, who knows? I panic over the thought of what to eat for dinner - there is no doubt picking a husband would send me completely over the edge. I digress. I knew when Jason nearly threw himself into the Infinity pool after telling Molly that he "couldn't imagine ever saying goodbye to her...but he had to", he had made a mistake. He knew it too. If he was truly in-love with Melissa, he wouldn't have been that highly emotional about saying goodbye to Molly. If you love somebody the way you should love somebody when you ask them to spend the rest of their life with you (ON NATIONAL TELEVISION), you don't cry - or in this case hyperventilate - over spilled milk (i.e., Molly). Fortunately, for him, Melissa didn't watch the show before saying "yes" to his proposal.

"After the Final Rose," which usually shows the happy couple all over each other and discussing wedding plans, took a dramatic turn. We find out that in the six week period that Jason proposed and returned to his normal life, he realizes his mistake in choosing Melissa over Molly. WHAT (gasp!!)??? And, better yet, he's going to break up with Melissa on national television and ask Molly for another chance. The whole time I'm thinking "bless her heart" in regards to Melissa and "surely she's not that stupid" in regards to Molly. After the public break-up has ended, Melissa gathers up what little pride she has left and asks Jason never to call her again - bless her heart. Molly joins the show to learn of Jason's change of heart. She is completely taken aback just like all the other 17 million Americans who have tuned in to watch this sick sherade of love. But, instead of demanding answers and wanting to know why their relationship will turn out any differently than his relationship with Melissa, she really is "that stupid". She starts kissing him and telling him she "never expected this" but is willing to see where things go because her feelings for him haven't changed. Whatever. Why are girls so naive? I include myself in that statement some (most) days. My favorite "Jason" line was where he was talking about his son, Ty, and that he wanted him to know that it's okay to make mistakes as long as you do it with integrity...because getting on national television and breaking a girl's heart is using integrity. Bless Ty's heart too for being raised by someone who is so mis-informed.

I hear that the new Bachelorette will be Jillian who was in the top 3 this season with Jason. Hopefully, she won't make me get on another soap box. :)