Rammer Jammer, Part Two

Hey Auburn! Hey Auburn! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer give 'em hell Alabama!!

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Rammer Jammer at the game yesterday was the loudest and best I have ever heard! The Bama Nation had six years of pent up frustration, and we all let it out.

John and I got to Tuscaloosa about 10:30 and stopped at Dreamland for ribs. Yum! We got to campus around 11:30 and met up with Amy and Allen and Susan and Tim. Jessi and Lance were tailgating on the quad at the library, so Amy, Allen, John, and I walked over and talked with them for a bit before walking over to Ferguson Center. Lance seems like a very nice guy, and he ain't hard to look at either. hahaha Jess deserves someone who will treat her like a princess, and from what she's said, he's doing a pretty good job of it. :)

Before the game. Notice the hair--nice and straight

Jessi and Lance

We hung out at Ferguson with Susan and Tim until time to walk to the stadium. Amy and Steven, who tailgated with us for the last couple of years, came by for a bit, too. We sat outside because it was so blasted hot inside. That did a LOT for my hair. lol I straightened it because I knew that it would be a huge, fuzzy mess if I didn't. After getting misted on, it was still a mess, but it wasn't quite as huge and fuzzy as it could have been.

After the game. Notice the effect a little moisture in the air has on the hair...

By the time we got to the stadium, my butterflies were about the size of Mt. Cody. I always get nervous before the big games, and this was a big game. I knew that Bama could win, but there is always so much emotion and passion that goes into this game. On more than one occasion, the "hot" team has ended up losing. This was not one of those occasions, though. (I wonder if Brad Lester regrets running his mouth and saying that Auburn would beat both Georgia and Alabama by "a good number of points"? Seems Brad was just a wee bit wrong on both games, especially the Bama game.)

The seniors came back out onto the field after the game. It was so much fun to watch them having fun. The last time Bama won a game, these guys were sophomores in high school. I know they are men, but they were running around like little boys. :)

If anyone had told me four months ago that Bama would be undefeated in the regular season and would shut-out Auburn 36 - 0, I would have thought he was smoking crack. I'm glad I didn't know, though, because that has made the season so much more enjoyable. I know it's a very special season to the young men who have put their all into it.

Now, it's on to Florida and the SECCG. Of course, none of the national media expects Bama to win, but after seeing how these guys have bought into Coach Saban's "process" I don't doubt anything. I do think it will be a great game because of the two totally different styles of the teams. A lot of people prefer Florida's style because it puts lots of points on the board, but I prefer that old-school, smash-mouth style Bama uses. No matter what happens in that game, Bama will be playing in a good bowl game this year--Miami or New Orleans. Who can complain about either?

I guess that's about it for now. Just one more thing...

ROOOOLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!

B & E

John got up this morning and started cleaning the leaves out of the yard. While he did that, I washed up a few dishes and started laundry. I was almost through with the dishes when he came in said for me to come outside with him. I figured he had something he needed my help with. I wish that had been all.

When we got outside, he walked over to the passenger side of my car, so my first thought was that something was wrong--a dent, a huge scratch, or something along those lines. Again, I wish that had been all. Apparently, someone (or ones) had decided to do a little breaking and entering last night.

I am the world's worst at tossing gas receipts into the console of my car. Unfortunately, I had also tossed an expired credit card and a receipt from the new card into the console the other day and haven't thought about them again. Fortunately, those things were still there. It doesn't appear that I had anything taken, but Gloria, who lives behind us, had her purse taken. They had also gotten into the vehicle of another neighbor and grabbed her leather jacket. Whoever it was then left the jacket in yet another vehicle. We suspect that whoever did it was scared by something as they/he/she was looking in Ray's truck and ran, leaving the jacket. Ray had some tools in his truck, but they were all still there. It seems like maybe the thief was looking for money.

On to better topics now. We had a great Thanksgiving with Jessi and her pups. We had decided that we'd stay home since we've done so much traveling over the last several months and because the ballgame is tomorrow. If we'd traveled, we'd have had to drive three hours up (whether to Oakman or to Hartselle) and three hours back; then, we'd turn around tomorrow and drive almost three hours again to and from Tuscaloosa. It certainly would not have been a relaxing few days off.

Jessi came over yesterday about 11 for dinner. We had a ham instead of turkey--Jessi, John, and I all prefer ham over turkey. I also did a broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, green beans, glazed carrots, and dressing (I have to give credit to Publix for the dressing.) I actually CAN cook, but I just don't most of the time. With it being just John and me, it's a lot easier to do the frozen meals like Bertolli or the Crock-Pot Classics.

After dinner, we all curled up with a dog (or two) and did nothing. John and I watched The Bucket List, and Jess napped. I guess it was 3:30 or so when Jess left, and John and I just kept doing nothing. :) He commented that it was the first day in a LONG time that we'd just sat around the house and done absolutely nothing to speak of. Those days are rare, but they are so enjoyable!

I only joked about hitting the sales at 4 AM today. Robin and I did that for about three or four years, and that was enough. First of all, I don't enjoy getting up that early for ANYTHING (not even football, but I will...) Second of all, the sales usually continue after "black Friday" anyway, so why fight all the crazies trying to save an extra 5%? And third, I really hate being in huge crowds while I'm trying to shop. It drives me crazy to have to try to fight my way through a store. I think the thing that did me in the last time I went shopping was all of the women who had the Winnebago-sized strollers. I wanted to scream! I mean, leave the kids at HOME, but noooo...they use those huge strollers as package keepers. I have even seen them and there was no baby in sight. I hope it would be a matter of someone taking the baby somewhere quiet, but it does make you wonder. Things that make you go "hmmmmm..."

The weather forecast for tomorrow has rain in it. I really hope this is one the meteorologists have missed because I don't enjoy sitting in the rain, but I will. I'm glad we hung on to our Harley rain gear.

I guess that about does it for now. I need to go do another load of laundry. Fun... Yeah, right.

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!! I hope the entire state hears "Rammer Jammer" over and over and over and over and.....

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Birthday wishes to the best dad in the world!

Dad, I hope your dad is awesome in every way!

We love you,
John, Trina, Ali, and Bama :)

Things I'm thankful for

Before I talk about the things I'm thankful for, I have to give thanks to God for all that I have. All of my blessings, both spiritual and material, are from Him. That being said, here goes...

• John -- I know without a shadow of a doubt that he was the answer to many, many prayers. I believe that everything that happens is part of God's ultimate plan for us. I don't think it was coincidence that I was hired at the hospital. John has been such a wonderful blessing to me. My life certainly would have been much less fulfilling were he not a part of it.
• Kiddos -- Katy and Jessi were part of a package deal with John, and I was more than willing and happy to get that part of the package. Even though I knew biological children were not part of my future, I was open to being a step-mom...even before I met John. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have such beautiful, funny, and smart (step)daughters. And an added bonus is that I get to claim Phillip and Sam, too. Other than John, these are two of my favorite guys.
• Family -- My family is a huge part of my life. I don't always get to see them as much as I'd like, but that's one of the pitfalls of living away. Growing up, we were always a pretty close family. I remember cook-outs on summer nights, more food than could be eaten at the holidays, and lots of laughter. When I talk about family, I'm not talking about only my family I was born into, I'm also talking about the family I married into. John's family accepted me for the beginning and made me feel like I belonged. Carl and Billie made me feel as if I were one of their own children, and Connie and I have always been just like sisters. Needless to say, I am very fortunate in the in-law area. :)
• Friends -- I have some of the best friends a person could hope to have. These are people who I can be myself--100%. They know my quirks, my faults, my likes, and my dislikes. We laugh and cry together. We can talk about everything and about nothing. We don't have to DO anything to have a good time, and sometimes those are the best times.
• Health -- Both John and I are relatively healthy. His diabetes and my allergies are the worst problems we have, and we are able to control them.
• A home -- Not just a house--a home. Almost as soon as I was hired at Ben Russell, we began looking for a house to buy. We looked and looked and looked, but the second we pulled up to this house, we knew we'd found our home. We both love antiques, and this house was built in 1937, so it fit perfectly with what we wanted. Over the years, we have filled it with lots of love and laughter.
• A job I love -- Well, most of the time. LOL Seriously, I do love my job, but there are parts of it that I'd change (like TONS of grading...) My students keep me on my toes and keep me young. There have been times when I still taught special education that I often wondered what else I could do, but when I 'd really sit down and think about it, there wasn't anything else I wanted to do.

There are many other things in my life that I am thankful for, but I don't think I should go on forever and ever. :) I know how very fortunate I am, and I thank God each and every day for everything.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Love you all!

It's IRON BOWL WEEK!!

When I was in college, there were bumper stickers that said, "Beat the rush. Hate Auburn early." I had one for a while. :) I didn't really start to dislike Auburn as badly as I do until I moved to this part of the state. I have had to listen to "barners" put down Alabama time and time again, and over the last six years...well, many of them have been excessively obnoxious. Anytime the "six in a row" talk comes up, I remind them that Bama has a "nine in a row" streak and when they have ten in a row, then we'll talk about them being superior. I'm hoping that all their talk comes to an end about 6 PM Saturday.

The first time I ever went to an Alabama-Auburn game was 1985. I was a freshman at Bama and was on the color guard of the Million Dollar Band. I can still see "the kick" just like it happened last week. I think I'd be able to find the exact place I was standing. hahahaha The kick was going right to left, and it seemed like it took forever for the ball to go through the uprights. I remember jumping and screaming and hugging everyone around.

Another Iron Bowl memory was Coach Stallings' last year. We had won, and John and I were in the truck waiting in traffic. We had the post-game show on and heard Coach announce that he was retiring. He is the only coach to have beaten Auburn in his last Iron Bowl. I've wondered what the next few years would have been like had he stayed, but it was more important to him (and to the Bama Nation) that he spend time with John Mark. Johnny was, and still is, his life. Coach Stallings is, without a doubt, one of the classiest individuals I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I'm looking forward to Saturday and hopefully putting an end to the talk SOME of the Auburn fans are doing. I will definitely be "an obnoxious Alabama fan" come Monday if (when) Bama wins. :) RTR!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my wonderful mom's birthday!

Mom, I hope your day is absolutely fabulous and that everything is exactly the way you want it.

We love you,
John, Trina, Ali, and Bama :)

Shopping and babies

Connie and I did our shopping day yesterday. Linda and Amy decided not to go since the original plan was to go early. Connie and I ended up not leaving until about 10:15, though.

We went to the Junior League market at BJCC. I like Christmas Village a LOT better, but I did get a couple of Christmas gifts while I was there, so it wasn't a complete loss. After we left there, I sent Katy a text to let her know we were headed over toward the Galleria. She had said that if there wasn't anything going on, she might meet us. She and Phillip were keeping the other Pate kiddos, though, so she said she needed to clean house but for us to come over. Connie and I ate lunch at The Olive Garden (yum) and then did some shopping. I got another Christmas gift taken care of, and I found new black boots for me. Mine are forever old and needed replacing. I need to find a pair of brown ones, too.

I ran into my cousin and her baby and her sister-in-law in the Galleria, too. I haven't seen Mary in forever, so obviously, I hadn't seen her baby. What a beautiful little girl! She has huge brown eyes just like her mommy and tons of dark brown hair. She just smiled and smiled when I talked to her. I could tell that NO ONE ever talks to her. lol (Yes, I'm being sarcastic...)

When we finished up at the Galleria, we headed over to see Phillip, Katy, and Sam. Poor Sam was not in the best of moods. Katy said that he napped only about 30 minutes instead of the close to two hours that he usually naps. Plus, he's getting a new little chomper on the top. Connie and I hadn't been there but just a few minutes when Claire, Ellie, and Jenna got there, so there was a lot of excitement in just a short time, too. He ate and Katy gave him a bath while we were there, and then he was ready to settle down with a bottle, so we left.

When I got back to Billie's, Danny, Linda, Amy, Will, and Maggie were still there, so I got to get some Maggie time, too. She is Will made over! She smiles and coos all the time. I got to snuggle up with her for a while before they left. Amy, Will, Maggie, and Danny came back over today, so I got even more time. I love snuggling with babies! I could just sit and hold them all day long.

Will absolutely loves Maggie to death. He is always kissing her and talking to her. She is a lucky little girl to have such an attentive big brother. He did tell John that we could bring Maggie home with us instead of bringing his Playstation home with us. lol I doubt he would have really let us.

He recited the poem he had to learn for school to me. It was pretty long, but he didn't miss one bit of it. He is very smart, and he is loving school. And he hasn't had to get "it" for stepping foot in the principal's office. hahaha

I'm going to call this post over. My neck is killing me, so I plan on taking a Tylenol PM and calling it a day. I hope everyone has a GREAT week! I'm looking forward to a SHORT work week!!

Friends and Family

My seniors are taking their Renaissance test, so I thought I'd take a quick minute to make a post.

This has been a really great week for spending time with friends. On Tuesday, I had Bunco at the house. If you don't play Bunco, you really should find a group to join or at least sub for--it is a so much fun. We play on the fourth Tuesday in the month, and it is a night I guard. (I know what you're thinking--this was the third Tuesday, but with next week being Thanksgiving, we moved it to the third one.) Most of the members of our group are or were teachers, but surprisingly, we don't talk about JUST school stuff. :) I love the camaraderie we share. We come from all different walks of life, and we have a wide range of interests, but we all share a love of our chosen profession, and because of that, we have developed wonderful friendships over time. By the way, John's chili was a huge hit. :)

One of our former business ed. teachers invited a group of us out to her house last night for dinner. They have just recently completed the building of their home and gotten moved in. It is gorgeous! She has a red farmhouse sink that I fell in love with. (I now plan on trying to convince John that I need one just like it whenever we build on the lake.) Everything from the food to the fellowship was wonderful. It was so nice to sit back and relax with people that I don't get to see on a daily basis.

Tomorrow, Connie, Linda, Amy, Maggie, and I are going shopping. Katy may join us, too. I hope she does! We haven't gone shopping together in a while. I'm just kind of along for the ride, but it's one I'm definitely looking forward to. Right now, the only thing I know of that is on the agenda is to stop at the BJCC for the Jr. League market. I probably won't do much shopping myself, but I'll enjoy spending time with my "sisters."

I need to do a quick cruise around the room. I made this an open-book test because it covers a lot of material, and with us having done research as well, it has been a while since we began the Renaissance. MOST are working like busy little bees. A couple of don't have their books or their notes (because they never bring them to class) are sitting there lost. Oh well. I won't take pity on them because THEY are unprepared! (Oh, what a horrible teacher I am for not "understanding" that teens aren't always responsible. I should just give them a grade anyway. lol)

I guess that's about it. I hope you have a GREAT weekend!

Long day

I had my yearly doctor's appointment today in Birmingham. I was supposed to have gone in July, but it was the same week that I had to start back to work. I decided I'd go during fall break. Turns out that by the time I called to make the appointment, today was the earliest available appointment. I usually try to make them for late morning so that I have the rest of the afternoon to "play" but 2:30 was the earliest one they had.

I left home about 10 so that I could stop by to see Katy and Sam before I went to the doctor. Phillip was home, too, but I only saw him for a minute. Poor thing had a tooth that was bothering him, so he went to the dentist this morning, and they sent him for a root canal this afternoon. When I got there, he was resting, but he got up just before I left. The whole right side of his face was so swollen, and it was very easy to see that he felt miserable. He didn't have that twinkle in his eyes that he usually has.

Sam was his usual happy self. He is the happiest baby ever. He just laughs and smiles all the time. And his eyes...they are the most beautiful blue--a gorgeous sky blue. I fed him his green beans before I left. He loves to eat. :) I tried to get John to go with me. He could've played with Sam while I was gone to the doctor, but he couldn't take off. So I took some pics of Sam on my phone and emailed them to him.

It's a good thing I went by to see Phillip, Katy, and Sam before my appointment because by the time I got finished at the doctor's office and dealt with traffic, I was wiped out.

My first appointment was at 1:30--right in and right out. The second one (at 2:15) is a different story. The first thing I saw as I walked into the office was that D. Hudson was on call. Great. It seems like I always end up with my appointments on his on-call days. I didn't get called back until 3:00, and then as I sat there in my birthday suit covered up with a paper picnic table cloth, they announced that Dr. Hudson had been called to labor and delivery and there would be an approximate 15 minute wait. Now, don't get me wrong--I certainly don't mind having to wait while a mommy and daddy are welcoming their new little one into the world. I DO hate sitting there, freezing my butt off, though. At least give me a nice warm blanket INSTEAD of a paper sheet. I know, I know...the picnic table cloths are probably cheaper, but still... I didn't leave the office until after 4--almost two hours after my appointment.

Then the REAL fun began--Birmingham traffic. I know that every single person who was at St. Vincent's must have been leaving at 4:00. Once I finally got out of the parking deck, I went the back way out. Got to University Blvd. and turned the WRONG WAY! The second I turned I realized what I had done. No biggie--I decided to go up through 5 Points. Nope...road work. ARGH! If I had to live and drive in that, I would go nuts.

Susan and I were meeting for dinner at Macaroni Grill. Since I didn't have lunch, I was STARVED by the time I got there.

Since my original plans had gotten messed up by the wait at the doctor's office, I didn't go by Whole Foods until after dinner. That is the most awesome grocery store I have EVER been in. I would love to go back when I have time to spend looking at everything instead of just rushing in and grabbing the few things I needed. Then, I still had to stop by Target.

I didn't get home until right at 9. As soon as I got in and got settled, the pups snuggled up next to me. Right now, Bama is curled up next to my side, and Ali is snuggled up on the sofa cushion behind me. They won't be quite so loving tomorrow, though. They are getting baths. Not fun for any of us. :)

That's it for now. We're going to finish watching Boston Legal (I love that show!!) and then I'm calling it a night. Have a GREAT day!

It was COLD!

We got up yesterday about 6:30 so we could leave for T-Town about 9. BD had sent John an email telling him that some of the guys from BD's class were going to stop by the old tailgating spot, so John decided he wanted to go by as well to see some of his old gang. (There were about three different classes that were all really good friends.) We got there about noon, and it was brrrr cold. As long as the wind wasn't blowing, it was bearable, but the wind was blowing more than it wasn't.

We walked over to the quad to get blackened ribeye sandwiches for lunch--yum! I've been craving one of them all season long. Then we went to the SUPE Store tent on the quad. Several years ago, I had gotten a silver elephant ring that I loved. Over the years, though, I wore it until the band was completely worn in two. As we were browsing, I saw another one just like it, so I decided to get it. John found a really nice shirt that he got. For the rest of the afternoon, we just hung around the tailgate spot.

About the time we got back from the quad, Doug, Debbie, Amanda, and Delores walked up. John and Doug graduated together, and Debbie and Delores are sisters. (Delores was married to a guy John went to school with.) When John and I first married, Amanda was just a tiny thing, and now she's almost all grown. That makes me feel SO old. haha A little later, Les Fowler (one of the team docs) came over. There were quite a few memories being shared. :)

After standing for hours, I decided to sit in the car and listen to the last few minutes of the UGA-AU game, and then I was so warm (compared to how I felt when I wasn't sitting in the car), I just stayed until it was time to walk over to the stadium. Besides, I knew that I had at least three hours of standing in the cold. (I don't sit at the games.) By the end of the game, we had basically been out in the windy, cold weather for about 10 hours. Hopefully, neither of us will end up sick.

I love a night game at Bryant-Denney. There is just something about the atmosphere that is so much more electric than a daytime game, and certainly more so than the morning games. Wade was there with his #12 helmet on. He is such a cutie--I could just pinch his cheeks. Janie said they are taking him to the SECCG and doing all the Fan Fare stuff. At 6 years old, he will have a blast.

The game had me kind of worried for the first 2-1/2, 3 quarters. When we got the safety off the blocked punt, I looked at John and the guy next to us and said that was a little too reminiscent of the AU-MSU game. Fortunately, we DID end up scoring a point or two more than Auburn did when they played MSU. (Oh, wait, we ended up scoring 29 more points than AU did...that's my effort at being "an obnoxious Alabama fan" for this week. lol) Javy was the most exciting player of the game. I love watching him break out for an awesome punt/kickoff return.

I think this week off is going to be really good. Our guys have played some hard, physical ball this season. We've been very lucky in that we haven't had any major injuries, but the guys are beat up and bruised, and with two major games yet to play before our bowl game, they need to heal.

No matter what the records are, there is always a lot of extra passion that goes into the Iron Bowl. Auburn's only hope of going to a bowl game this year rests on beating Alabama on November 29. More importantly to many of their fans is seeing Bama's perfect season ruined. And yes, there are some Auburn fans who delight in seeing Bama lose--imagine that!!! (I work with several of them, so I know what I'm talking about.)

Every year I have students try to get me to make a bet with them about the game. Their terms are usually that I would have to wear an Auburn shirt. I always refuse, even if I'm 99.999% sure Bama will win. And, even if I am 99.999% sure Bama will win, no one will ever hear me say it; that way, I don't have to eat my words. I've been around long enough to remember big upsets in this game. Besides, why would I make someone wear a Bama shirt if I refuse to wear an Auburn shirt?

I've got my wonderful, sweet husband making his homemade chili. I'm hosting Bunco this month, and we're having it this week instead of next week since next week is Thanksgiving. (Where has this year gone???) A few years ago, the Ladies' Bible Class where Mom and Dad go to church did a cookbook to raise money for one of their ministries. There is a recipe in it for Casey's Deer Chili. John decided to make it, but he added his own touches to it--that's why I call it his homemade chili. Oh. My. Goodness. It is d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! He made it last year for one of the tailgate parties--there wasn't one tiny drop left, and everyone kept telling him how good it was. I figured that the Bunco Babes would enjoy it. Plus, I love showing off his talents. :)

I guess that's about it for now. I hope everybody has a GREAT week!

It's been a busy week

Having Tuesday off really threw me. On Wednesday, I kept asking the kids if they'd had a good weekend. :) By the end of the day, I had finally started to get the day right.

Monday was nothing but go, go, go after being out of Friday. Tuesday was a nice, relaxing day--I didn't get out of jammies all day. I love those days. Wednesday and Thursday were just as busy as Monday. Today has been a little better, but I've spent the majority of my planning getting substitute stuff ready for Monday. (Woo hoo--another day off. Boo hoo--going to the doctor.) At least I will get to sleep a little later Monday, but that means Tuesday will be another go, go, go day.

John's continued with his "obnoxiousness" this week. ;) Remember that last week he did something #1 related because of Bama's ranking? Well, this week he has focused on the number 10--for 10 wins in a row. Monday he did just a "10"; Tuesday he did "diez"; Wednesday, he did "A 10 Row"--he had to explain that one. If you've ever done the Wuzzle Puzzles, then you can figure out that it read "10 in a row". Yesterday he did "X" (Roman numeral...). Today is "Bo Derek." He's such a goofy nut, but that is one thing I love so much about him. I never fail to laugh when he's around.

We're probably going to freeze our ever-loving butts off tomorrow night at the game. With the temp supposed to be in the 40s at kickoff and in the 30s before the game is over...Yeah, I'll be wrapped up. John did find a room, so we won't be driving home at 1 or 2 o'clock Sunday morning. Yippee!!

That does it for today. I've got a couple more quick things I need to do before my seniors come in. Have a GREAT weekend, stay warm, and

ROLL TIDE!!!

Rammer Jammer!

Hey Tigers! Hey Tigers! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, give 'em hell Alabama!!!

Granted, we did NOT beat the hell outta LSU, but we won, and when we beat an SEC team, I'll do Rammer Jammer, even if we win by only a point. If we're playing a team like Western Kentucky, I DO NOT think Rammer Jammer should be done, even if we do beat them 100 to nothing.

When John got home on Tuesday, he had piece of tape with a red 1 on it on his scrub top. Puzzled, I asked why. He said it was because 'Bama was number 1. He said that on Monday, he did "one" and that one Wednesday, he was going to do "won." When he got home Wednesday, I asked if he had done it. He said he changed it to "uno" instead. On Thursday, he did "Juan" because it sounded like number one. Friday, he did "won." He says that Monday, he is going to do "ten" for Bama's 10-0 record. Hmmm--does this make him obnoxious?

Any hoo--Kristen and I are going to get toes done tomorrow. She came over to watch the game with us. I asked her what she was doing Tuesday since we're off and suggested we go to Opelika. She asked if my salon was open tomorrow (they are) so we decided to go tomorrow afternoon. We are planning on being totally obnoxious Monday--decked out in our 'Bama stuff. We may even wear matching 'Bama jerseys. I love being around her. She is a HOOT!!

In August, I would have NEVER thought we'd be 10-0 at this point. At best, I thought we'd be 7-3 or 8-2, having lost to Georgia and possibly Clemson and/or Tennessee. Now, though, I can see a possible 12-0 at the end of the season. Were auburn not sucking as badly as they are, that one would have me worried. Granted, the Iron Bowl always seems to be a toss up even if one of the teams sucks. I think the Iron Bowl will still be a good game, but I can see us beating them. :)

I guess that's all I have to say for now. Oh wait...

BAMA IS U-N-D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D!!!!!!!

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer...

Girlfriends

Misty, Susan, and I had the best time yesterday. I am so very blessed and fortunate to have so many wonderful women in my life. This post is devoted to Misty and Susan, but I'll do another one at a later time about all the others.

I met Misty at the school at 9:30. We got to catch up on a lot on the ride to Susan's. Even thought Misty and I usually do see each other every day, it isn't for long, so we don't have time during a normal day to talk. I've said it before, teaching is about the only profession out there in which there is so little adult interaction within the course of a normal day. Anyway, we got to Susan's a little before 11. We just sat around for a while chatting and laughing.

We all l-o-v-e P.F. Chang's, so we went there for our long, relaxing lunch. None of our husbands are huge fans of Chang's, so about the only time we go is when it's the girls. (John prefers the "traditional" Chinese, and Chang's is more "trendy.") When we go, we usually order the same things--I get the Chang's Spicy Chicken, Susan gets the Honey Shrimp, and Misty gets either Beef and Broccoli or Mandarin Beef, and then we share. We had the Lettuce Wraps for an appetizer. Those are delish!!!

After we left Chang's, we ran into Talbot's for just a minute. It was a little cooler than I thought it was going to be, so I wanted to find a light-weight jacket. I did, but I ended up not wearing it at all. lol It will be perfect for these fall mornings, though.

We decided to go to Christmas Village at the BJCC. We haven't been in forever. The last time I went, I swore I'd never go again because the crowds were horrible. We discovered yesterday that the best time to get there is about 2:30. It was still very busy, but nothing like I've seen it. Of course, the economy could have something to do with it... I got my "potholder" gift for Bunco, and I got some dip mixes that I'll serve at Bunco.

After leaving Christmas Village, we went to Superior Grill for a quick bite. Since we really didn't want to eat, we decided to sit in the bar. A man at the table next to us was extremely loud, and before we left, he was making farting noises with his mouth. Think he'd had a little too much to drink? lol

Every time Misty, Susan, and I get together, we have such a good time. We can talk non-stop for hours, and we are always laughing. I know that yesterday was good for me, but I really think it was good for Misty. She said that other than school, she really hasn't had much to keep her mind occupied since her dad's death. She is having a very difficult time with it. I wouldn't say that she was any closer to her dad than her sisters or her brother because they are an extremely close family, but she has always been a daddy's girl, and she was the "baby" of the family--her older sister was 17 and her brother was 10 when she was born.

I met Misty and Susan when I was subbing at BRHS in the spring of 1993. I had subbed for Misty's sister, Pam, a couple of days, and I had subbed for Susan, too. On one of the days that I subbed, I saw a car in the parking lot with a Walker Co. tag. I wondered who at the school had connections to Walker Co. Later I subbed for a Ms. Anthony. Hmmm--could she be related to Mr. Anthony, one of my teachers in high school?? Nah. Ends up--Yeah, she is. :) Once we made that connection, we made tons of others. My best friend from high school married one of her best friends. Her dad performed the ceremony, and I was one of the bride's maids. Susan was at the wedding. We were both at Alabama at the same time.

Misty and I taught summer school in '93, and we kind of began developing a friendship. We went to Pam's a couple of times after school was out and hung out at the pool. Although Misty and I didn't have the connections that Susan and I had, she and I just seemed to click. There are those people who we just KNOW we'll hit is off with, and Misty was one of them. We had a school retreat right before my second year at Ben Russell. Susan and Tim had just gotten married, so she didn't go. Misty and I roomed together, and I think that was probably when we REALLY bonded. We talked for HOURS. We haven't stopped talking yet.

I know God had a plan when He put me at Benjamin Russell. Had John gotten the job in Troy instead of Alex City, I would have never taught at Benjamin Russell, and I would have never had these two wonderful, special women in my life. I can't imagine my life without them.

Today was my Friday, and what a day it was!

I am so not a morning person--it takes a shower and a cup of coffee before I'm even close to being fully awake. Getting up this morning wasn't as hard as usual though since it was my Friday.

The morning started out pretty good. Nothing unusual or abnormal. Or so I thought. When I got to work, I did my normal stuff--turned on my desktop computer, got the coffee started, set up my laptop. After getting that done, I walked down to the copy room. While I was in there, Ben came in. He told me that the athletic department had been broken in to and that quite a bit had been taken. I haven't heard anything "official" about what was taken, but one of my football players said that TVs, laptops, and video equipment had been taken. Not a quick dash in and dash out job. I really didn't think anything else about it.

The bell rang, and the school day got started as usual. The news of the break-in had gotten around, but it wasn't what everybody was wanting to talk about. About half way through first block, the bell rang for a fire/bomb--not a drill. All of our drills are planned and they are held in the first 5 minutes of the period. On top of that, some of the sophomores were taking the PLAN test. They would not have scheduled a drill with that going on.

Apparently, some idiot called in a bomb threat, so we got a "break" from class for a little over an hour. When we got back into the building, one of my students told me that her "little bird" (Samsung, Nokia, Blackberry??) told her that Horseshoe Bend had an intruder lock down, and later in the day, people were saying Dadeville had a bomb threat, too. Why do people do crap like that? First of all, it is a felony. Second of all, it's just plain idiotic. I guess some people have nothing better to do with their time.

I got my hair done this afternoon, too. It was the first time I've had my color done since August. I was in desperate need of color. I've decided to let my hair grow out again. When I got it cut last time, I really didn't go short, but it was shorter than it had been since Katy and Phillip got engaged. There are times when I really miss my SUPER short hair. It was so easy to wash it, throw a little gel in it, run my fingers through it, and go. I mean, how hard can it be when your hair is only about an inch and a half long? THAT is a short haircut.

John had a disaster drill at work today. They were simulating a plane crash at Wetumpka High School. It didn't start until 5:30, so he isn't even home yet. He said they told them it would probably take a couple of hours, so he may not be home until 8:30 or so.

The pups were SO happy when I got home. They go into "doggy jail" (as John calls it) with no problem, but they can't wait to get out in the afternoon. Ali only stopped kissing me in the last 10 minutes. She is so rotten, that when she wants to be petted, she wants you to pet her with both hands. Her daddy is responsible for that spoiling. :) Right now, both she and Bama are snuggled up in my lap. They'll be excited to get to sleep in a little later in the morning.

I'm meeting Misty at the school about 9:30, and then we're going to Susan's. We really don't have any definite plans. We were going to do some pampering, but we decided to just wing it. That way, if we want to go somewhere for a nice long lunch, we can without having to watch the clock. We have been known to hang out in a restaurant for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. :)

Mom gave me an update on Dingo last night. He has settled in and is doing just fine. She said he eats all the time--and not just hot dogs and hamburger. He hasn't really gained weight, though. Both she and Dad have said that he is never still, so he probably burns off all of the calories he takes in. Mule has decided that having Dingo around isn't so bad either. She said they play ALL the time.

Giz had almost always slept with Mom and Dad, so when Mule came along, he was right there in bed, too. Mom has told me that she really wished she could have gotten them used to sleeping in their own beds. When they got Dingo, she put him in his bed in the bathroom instead of getting him used to sleeping in the big bed. (Mom, I must say that I felt sorry for him. lol) Anyway, earlier this week, when she went to put Dingo to bed, Mule followed her into the bathroom and crawled in the bed and just looked at her. So she went to get the other bed for Dingo. Since then, the two boys have been sleeping together in the bathroom.

I can't wait to see Dingo. It will be interesting to see my two with their two. Bama will probably be the "old fart" of the bunch.

Mom and Dad still miss Gizmo so much. She calls Dingo "Giz" all the time. I remember how hard it was after Elvis died. There was nothing that could make the sadness go away and getting Bama in no way replaced Elvis. This may sound odd to some, but I kind of equate getting Bama (and Mom and Dad getting Dingo) to that mother who miscarries but tries to get pregnant again as soon as the doctor says it is okay. Nothing will replace the baby that she lost, but she makes the choice to try again as soon as possible. Bama could not take Elvis's place, but I made the choice to "try again" as soon as possible, and my parents felt the same way. Getting Dingo was as much or more for Mule, who was grieving in his own little doggy way, as it was for Mom and Dad.

I guess I've gone on long enough. If you've read this far, then let me say that I hope you have a GREAT Friday, a GREAT weekend, and...

ROLL TIDE!!

Colors of fall

Fall has been here for a while now, but it's been only the last few days that the leaves have really started to change into the beautiful colors of fall. There is a tree that I pass on my way to work that is just gorgeous, and when the sky is that bright blue, the leaves just stand out that much more. I love crossing the lake every afternoon and seeing the reflections in the water.

Grannie always loved the fall, so I always pay special attention to the colors. On Tuesday, it will be 10 years since she passed away. It's so hard to believe that it has been that long. I went through depression for several months after she died. I didn't care about anything, and the things that had made me happy before no longer did. Then, I started having dreams about her. In them, she never said anything, but I knew that everything was okay. After the dreams started, I finally started to come out of my depression, and eventually the dreams stopped. Every once in a while, I'll have one about her, but they are very rare.

While the fall isn't my favorite season, I do love it. I love the cooler days, the bright blue skies, the gorgeous red and yellow leaves...I love that it is a time that makes me feel close to my grandmother because it was a time that she loved.

When you are outside, look around and notice the beauty of God's creation. Stop and thank Him for all that he has done.

Have a GREAT day!

I voted

One thing that I have always done was vote in elections. My thoughts are that if a person chooses not to vote, he or she has no right whatsoever to complain about the way things are done. I know that there are many people out there who are physically unable to go to the polls, but that is why absentee ballots are made available.

I left school almost as soon as the bell rang. I didn't know what kind of lines there would be, and I didn't want to wait any longer than I had to. Fortunately, there wasn't much of a line when I got to the armory. There were a couple of people ahead of me in the M-Z line, and several came in right behind me, and about a dozen were at the voting booths. There must have been a pretty steady turn out in the big city of Dadeville because I was 915 for the machine I used. I didn't look at the other machine to see how many had used it. John said that he walked right in and the only time he had to stop was when he signed his name.

Will you be as happy as I am that there will be NO MORE of those horrid political ads? Don't you just hate it when politicians focus on all of the "bad" stuff about their opponent instead of focusing on themselves and what they are going to do???

Let's just hope that the RIGHT man (and woman) ends up with the most votes!

"The Tide is High"

Remember this song by Blondie from 1980?

1980 was the last time that Bama was ranked number 1 during the regular season. (They ended the '92 season ranked number 1 and national champs.) When I was in high school, THE radio station to listen to was WKXX, Kicks 106. One Friday afternoon, the DJ locked himself in the studio and played "The Tide is High" over and over and over. And over. (I remember it was a Friday because I was getting ready for our high school football game.) For the first time in 28 years, Bama is ranked number 1 during the regular season. I would really have rather stayed at number 2 for another couple of weeks, but it is exciting.

Saturday will be Coach Saban's first trip back to Tiger Stadium as a coach since he left for the NFL. The Bengal Tigers were none too happy when he re-entered the college ranks at Alabama. It might not have been so bad had he gone to another conference, but to go back to the SEC West to coach a team that they have to play year in and year out didn't set well with many fans. Because of that, they were already baited for bear, but with us having a number 1 ranking, they will be even more motivated to beat us. Everybody wants to be the team to knock the number 1 team out of that spot. Of course, our guys have tons of motivation as well. Beating LSU will put us in the SECCG for the first time in nine years, and a win there could mean a spot in the national championship game. There are still several games to go, though.

We were in Hartselle this weekend. John cleaned up the boat Saturday morning while I ran a couple of errands. I had to go by Buzzy's to get a pin put in John's watch and to finally get the slide he made for my bracelet. After John got finished with the boat and got cleaned up, we went over to Danny and Linda's to watch the game with them and Chris and Trisha.

Amy and Allen took Will and Maggie to the game. She sent me pictures of them--so cute!! (The Vest family has the cutest babies in the entire world!) I had an email from Amy this morning. She said that Will was explaining everything to Maggie. :) He is such a good big brother!

This is going to be a short week for me. Actually, the next four weeks will be short weeks for me. :) Susan and I decided that we wanted to do something special for Misty after her dad passed away. We thought she might enjoy a day of pampering on us, so we're having a Girls' Day Friday. I SO can't wait! Next week, we'll be out on Tuesday for Veteran's Day. I don't plan on getting out of my jammies. The next week is my doctor's appointment--what fun. And then it's Thanksgiving, so we'll be out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

I guess I better go. My kiddos have finished up their assignment, and it's almost time for the bell. Have a GREAT week!!