Weekend Collection

Karl's father and grandfather came down for the weekend.  As per usual, I was busy running around at first.  Indoor track has officially started, and with a new sport comes new paperwork.  But really, the reason for their visit was football.  Karl bought tickets for the Alabama vs. Mississippi State game a LONG time ago, thinking it would be some throwaway game no one would care about.  Well, with Mississippi State going on to become ranked #1, the game was anything but a throwaway.  Personally, I said let's sell the tickets and become rich.  My idea was met with silence.

But I'm glad we did not sell those tickets.  I had a wonderful time, and it was not nearly as cold as I had feared it was going to be.  The sun was shining, and the Alabama crowd was as mighty as ever.  Coming from a tiny college (in the grand scheme of things), Alabama was overwhelming and impressive.  Greek Row looked just like any Greek Row does in the movies.  Enormous brick houses full of tradition, pearls, bow ties, and alcohol.

On the field, a sea of CRIMSON (not red).  And as much fun as I had, NO WONDER FOOTBALL PLAYERS HAVE GOD COMPLEXES.  It was crazy to watch people younger than me step onto the field and be greeted by shouts and waves and screaming.  The game was exciting and everything a SEC football game should be.  Karl, his dad, and his grandfather (three generations of Karls) were glowing.  I sat eating my cotton candy with a smile.  And then we enjoyed an even more Southern tradition- Cracker Barrel.  Breakfast for dinner.  Roll Tide, indeed.

Weekend Collection

After a week of (literally) running around, clearing paper jams, and lesson planning, the weekend was here.  And perhaps the best part, I was able to share it with my husband.

Friday, for no particular reason, we headed to Ichiban.  I don't much get into the showmanship (although color me impressed- I sure couldn't do it), but I do love the rice with egg and noodles and miso soup.  The evening had slightly cooled, and so I hesitantly suggested a small stop at Bridgestreet, the fancy outdoor shopping plaza and no surprise at all, Karl acquiesced.  After buying a gift for someone else, I also walked away with a pair of earrings for myself.  And not from Anthropologie, so everyone was happy.  Mostly Karl.  I think he was nervous as I kept sniffing the $28 candles.

For the first night in ages, I stayed up rather late, although I was sleepy.  I didn't sleep in quite as long as I would have wanted, but the reason why was worth getting up for.  We were supposed to go kayaking with our small group, but the extremely sultry weather this weekend warned us that we would gain nothing by chancing heat stroke.  So we grilled some food, each brought a side dish, and enjoyed each other's company for the day.  A little KanJam and Apples to Apples rounded out the afternoon, and Karl and I headed home to couch sit (and grade papers) for the rest of the evening.

And Sunday was a typical Sunday.  A day of rest.  I meant to come to school and redo some things in my room, but I just couldn't find the energy and will to leave the apartment after church.  Instead, I flipped through a magazine as lunch cooked, and enjoyed more time puttering around the apartment put misplaced items in their place for the week.  I didn't touch my school work at all, and the sky is not falling.

This weekend I will head to Memphis for a cross country meet, so I know the craziness is about to resume.  But this past weekend was lovely in its unhurriedness.  I could do with more weekends like it.

Weekend Collection

The past weekend was a weekend fluctuating between work and rest. On Saturday morning, what I really wanted to do was rest.  What I actually did was helped organize/clean the track area which was no small task.  Everything from outdoor season needed to be brought inside so we could save it from bad weather and football players.

Then there was a trip to the farmers' market, which is always a treat.  I'm always finding the things I need and the things I didn't know I needed.  Especially those dahlias.

The rest of the afternoon was spent lighting candles and creating lesson plans.  Although they say not to take work to bed, I couldn't help but get nice and comfortable as I caught up on grading, letter writing, and reading for pleasure.

We were supposed to go to the movies that Saturday evening, but I was just too tired.  Instead, we spent the evening on the couch.  That basically means I fell asleep and Karl watched the television while massaging my head.  It's a wonderful way to spend an evening.

Sunday was more lesson planning, cleaning, grocery shopping, and reading.  And finally, we went to see "The Giver," which was surprisingly pleasant.  I had been so worried the moviemakers would ruin everything, but when they didn't, I was left saying, "That wasn't so bad.  Thank goodness."

Sunday brought thunderstorms that we are still experiencing today.  The South hasn't seemed to provide a good thunderstorm lately, but today, they're loud and bright.  I only wish I was on the porch enjoying this instead of watching through my classroom windows.  But the weekend is over, and I'm back to work.

Week(end) Collection

For a week, Karl was away.  I cleaned, I watched Netflix, I read books, and I went to track practice.  It was odd living the "alone" life, for it was not quite the single life, but I certainly had no one to talk to or bounce ideas off of, or laugh at, or even eat with.  I spent afternoons by the pool, and quite luckily, made some new acquaintances.  But I was very ready to visit Pennsylvania to see friends and family.

While there, I visited with roommates and co-workers, as well as family.  We were forever running (driving).  Although it may not have seemed like we rested, in a way, even though it was for a very short time, it was comforting to be in the arms of family once again.  As I have mentioned before, it still is nice to come back to our own place where I am familiar with my "things" and our habits.  But still, it was calming to see the hills and the greens of Pennsylvania.

Although we had some minor car trouble on our way back (I insisted we fly next time), we made it back in relatively good time.  Thus the unpacking and the laundry has begun.  Our bed has turned into a small desk where I am plotting out dinner and finances, and it is good to wrap myself in my robe once again.

Weekend Collection

Friday's dinner involved walking around countless people and food trucks.  "The Battle of the Food Trucks" was in full force, and believe me, the husband and I got around.  Both of us were happy with our respective selections for dinner, but I was even happier with our selection for dessert.  A salted caramel chocolate, mint chocolate, fudge, and orangescicle cupcake each went home to be devoured over the weekend.  They were well worth the calories.

This weekend brought a visitor from Pennsylvania.  A fellow teacher who loves all things English (in both the British sense and the language sense).  And thus, our great adventure began.

On Saturday, we left early in the morning to drive to Montgomery where the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum was waiting for us.  Although not extensive, the museum sits in a lovely house where the Fitzgeralds resided when living close to Zelda's family.  Because of in-law issues and the oppressive summer heat, F. Scott was not particularly fond of living Montgomery, and they were never around for long.  However, it was one of the longest places of residence for the Fitzgeralds, including their daughter.

The museum included pictures and memorabilia from Zelda and Scott's respective families, as well as pictures and letters dating from their courtship and on.  Some of Zelda's artwork was on display, and first editions of all Scott's novels!  The excitement and complete nerd-ing out was overwhelming.

Then we jumped into the car and headed to Monroeville, Harper Lee's hometown.  We had tickets to see a performance of "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the courthouse that inspired the events in the famed novel.  It was breathtaking.  The performance was wonderful, and we wanted Atticus to come home and read us a bedtime story.  He was the perfect performer.  A long drive home and a stop at a Waffle House capped off our long Saturday.

Sunday was a day of BBQ and relaxation and that was alright with me.  It's hard to come back down to earth after such an exciting, fun-filled weekend, but I am so glad that such a dear friend was able to visit.

An Hour or Two

The state track championship was held in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It was three days of sleepiness, watching, and running. And eating, of course.  Karl and I have been meaning to make it to the gulf, but our endeavor was cut short with his work schedule and life.  I am an ardent fan of the beach, and if I wasn't so afraid of storms, I would also be a supporter of coastal living myself.

I was not brave enough to don a swimsuit and jump into the water. But for the hour or so that the kids frolicked and posed for pictures, I dug my feet into the sand and the water.  I let the breeze off the waves tangle my hair.  I thought of big, floppy straw hats to shield my face from the burning sun.  And I imagined coming back to the beach because I do love it so.

Worth It

I will not be able to wear flats or heels for a week or two.  My sock tan line is atrocious to look upon, and I feel like everyone is staring at my feet.  My legs are so tan already, but my feet are still ghastly white.

My earlobes are sunburned.  As well as the back of my legs.  That means they are itchy.  For someone who never has sunburn, this is a slight inconvenience.

I am so sleepy.  I went to bed too late on Friday, only to wake up early on Saturday to fetch the coffee and donuts before another long day.  Saturday I fell asleep at 7:00 pm.  Dinner was missed.

I will ride a school bus for six hours on Thursday.  Then I will ride another six hours to return home on Saturday.  But it's where we are going that makes the trip, the sunburn, the lack of sleep, and the messy tan lines worth it.

Our track team won sectionals.  So it's off to the state meet we go.  Gulf Shores, Alabama.  We'll be at the beach for a little while.  I might even get to enjoy a dinner with real, fresh seafood one evening.  Winning never felt so good.

Weekend Collection

This past weekend brought a car load of family members. I always worry about sleeping arrangements and the lack of certain necessities, such as extra blankets and pillows.  As two young married people, husband and I have yet to acquire "old" comforters and afghans and pillows that have fallen flat.  But eventually, you have to look around the apartment, look into all the rooms, shrug your shoulders, and say, "Alas."

We were much excited to feel the warmth again, with temperatures climbing back into the 80s.  And while by myself I may have sat on the porch or tanned a bit, with family, the weekend was full of food.  Places that Karl and I have discovered in our research on Urbanspoon and my particular taste for stuffed potatoes rather than ribs and barbecued chicken.  And that was fine.  I didn't fire up the oven/stove once.  I am not even sure the microwave was ever used.  Next time I will try to be a bit more proactive in the field of cooking.  I suppose it was a little daunting for me to think about cooking for six rather than the usual two.  So husband did not even ask it of me once, and I am grateful that he neither poked nor prodded the issue.  Next time.

We also took the family to the shooting range using our newly minted membership identification cards.  I am not sure there is anything more "hick" than our newest hobby, but I am rather enjoying myself.  I never saw myself owning a gun, yet alone a pistol, and while maybe I wish our hobby was a bit less expensive, the level of concentration and skill needed is as exciting to learn as it might be to master.  Karl was especially excited to teach his little brother (and by little, I mean, probably taller but younger in age), as my brother-in-law has held an affinity for shooting targets at a younger age.  My sister-in-law and I were just as happy to window shop for the weekend, as she is on a tight budget due to her impending trip to Rome for a semester.  Oh to be young again.

And as Karl shuffled back into the apartment after escorting the family to their car, we smiled at one another and slowly started shifting bits and pieces of our lives back into place.  And now we have resumed to working by day and tiredly ordering Chinese takeout and watching "Suits" in the evening.  But the weekend was lovely, and we will make it another week.

Weekend Collection

Many of our weekdays and weekends have consisted of running around.  And I was really looking forward to this last run around before Christmas.  We were supposed to fly to Arizona to see two friends.  We were to take a hike, do some shopping, eat BBQ ribs, and experience a wine and design class.  But thanks to Dallas and ice storms, our flight was cancelled, our long weekend plans were ruined, and we drove home from the airport in silence, minus my hiccuping sobs.

So, instead of a weekend filled with sunshine and friendship, our weekend was instead filled with buckets of rain and cuddling.  Karl had four days off, and we put those to good use despite the monsoon.  I figured that a trip to Nashville might make the disappointment a little less apparent, but the rain prohibited any grand adventure.  Nevertheless, Christmas decorating, shopping, movies, hot chocolate, and general laziness in pajamas were all on the table.  And that is okay.  We will try again in the months to come.  I guess Karl just needed a few days off from work...and I need[ed] a lesson in patience.

Weekend Collection

Another visitor, but she was long awaited.  And not just because I wanted Mexican food, and Karl will never take me.

The weekend was spent like any other...Waffle House, shopping, and Netflix.  But in between making dinner and the roadtrip to and from Nashville Airport, the conversations and silliness resumed, and we naturally picked up where we left off.

November has been full of visitors,  but our rooms and bellies were full, and we called that happiness.

Side note: All I have seen on Pinterest are memes about Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in "Scandal."  We started Season 1 this week, and I am on Season 2.  Season 3 is currently airing.  I highly recommend it, and surprisingly, Karl likes it too.  When I have done something particularly successful or have conned Karl into doing something through negotiations, I ask him to call me "Olivia Pope." I'm that enthralled.

Weekend Collection

This weekend brought a visit from family.  We have been fairly busy with weekend visitors, and we still have more to come.

Of course, the weekend always includes some light shopping at Bridgestreet.  Shopping at a fancy outdoor center always makes me feel like I have more money to spend than I actually do.  And what would a weekend in the South be without BBQ?  Luckily, the weather was absolutely perfect, and we had a good chance to show off our warmer, sunnier climate.

Overall, you can't beat a few days with family, food, and sunshine.  Otherwise, what kind of visit would that be?

Weekend Collection

Another trip home.  Another 10 hours there.  But before we could even leave, Karl had to work.  I packed his suitcase, checked my luggage, and was sucked into watching "Once Upon Time: Wonderland."  Before I knew it, he was back home at 8:00 pm, and we were on the road.

Armed with snacks and drinks, we set off on the highway.  Lucky for us, the trip really isn't awful.  In fact, it's a pretty straight shot.  Like the beast that I am, I drove from 1 am to 4 am.  Karl really doesn't expect too much of me in the driving way.  Normally I'm a napper.

We pulled into the driveway early Friday morning and slept a few hours.  Karl had errands to run and people to visit from work.  The poor kid was still working, even on his "vacation."  I just chilled at home, and later that evening we enjoyed a very fine meal with his family.

The next morning was spent sleeping in, catching up on the sleep that we had missed in the car ride.  Eventually, we repacked our things and headed to my mother's house where we would spend the night before church.  That evening, we watched the television series "Psych," which I have missed, and enjoyed a blazing fire, which I have also missed.

On Sunday we attended our home church where it was fun to catch up with some friends who we miss greatly.  We feasted on local fare that we cannot get in Alabama, and a restful Sunday turned into football Sunday.  Thus, for a few hours, I crept away with my friend to enjoy fantastic wings and fried zucchini planks (very fattening. very good.) and of course, catch up on all the local news that I have missed while being away.

Monday was Karl's dentist appointment (always the reason we need to return home), but then we were off to visit the grandparents.  On our way around the city, I noticed all the things that I missed.  The leaves have not yet turned in Alabama, and if I do say so myself, Pennsylvania is especially beautiful in gorgeous fall weather.

Again, we made another late night trip back to Alabama.  I had thought we were going to stop halfway and rest for the night, but Karl made other plans.  We were going straight through.  This time, he drove all the way.  And even though I did not drive at all, nor did I sleep at all, because Karl turned the car into the Arctic circle so that he could stay awake.  My job?  Give him synopsizes of books and movies.  He received an extremely elaborate plot summary of "The Flowers of War," with Christian Bale, the Divergent book series in comparison to The Hunger Games, among some others.  However, I was not allowed to divulge  information about "The Fault in Our Stars" and "The Book Thief" because he was afraid I would start crying.  Typical. On a side note, the author of TFiOS raved about "The Book Thief" film (which he was able to see at a film festival), and for me, that is extremely promising.

Eventually we made it back.  And I've never been happier to slip under the covers.  We fell asleep almost immediately.  Unfortunately, Karl had to work today.  Hopefully he will be able to stay awake.

On another side note, I am pleased to introduce you to our Compassion child.  Her name is Besty.  She is from Peru.  And she has the most darling little smile.

Weekend Collection

Karl worked this weekend, so we hung out when we had the time.  Friday night, we went out to eat at The Olive Garden (craving breadsticks), then off we went to the movie theater to see the  new release of "Rush."  We are both fairly critical of movies, and while we do not necessarily have the same taste, we both enjoyed the movie and the story behind the film.  We felt it was well done.  Definitely worth renting or seeing.

The next morning before he went to work, Karl told me we could go to Chipotle (which I had been begging for).  After he left, I was a little baffled.  I mean, Karl is always giving things up for me or trying to make me happy (God bless him), but to just agree to go to Chipotle was beyond me.  Then I figured it out.  Chipotle is beside Best Buy.  Karl always bribes me to go to Best Buy- usually it is with a trip to Barnes and Noble with
 the promise of a book or two.  Now he was trying to go through my stomach.  So I let him.  And while he went to Best Buy, I got out of it by going into Home Goods.  Where I bought things for my mantle.  It is  not finished yet, but at least it has "stuff" on it now.

I like to get the bowl because it isn't messy.  Not because I'm a wimp.

The  books, by the way, are "Jane Eyre," "Wuthering Heights," and "To Kill a Mockingbird."  I did not want a Halloween mantle, but these books do have the spooky aspect to them.

The rest of the weekend was spent in yoga pant and supporting Alabama with some new gifts.  It was a slow weekend, but a family visit this weekend will keep me busy during the week.

Weekend Collection

Karl had this weekend off, and so together we ran the errands that I normally run myself.  First trip was to the Farmer's Market.  Unfortunately, I was not in need of any fruits and veggies, so we left with a large bouquet of colorful flowers and fillers, a bargain for the price.

A few more errands eventually led to the marvelous Bridge Street plaza, where I earned another trip to Barnes & Noble because Karl planned on watching football games the rest of the weekend. What's a girl to do but read?

Snuggled on the couch under our respective blankets, we spent the rest of the weekend napping, reading, attending church, and watching football.  But at least we did them together.

But a little something to look forward to in November- a visit from a friend. Flight ticket confirmed!

Weekend Collection

Unfortunately, I was struck with a cold this weekend.  Thus, my days were filled with lots of green tea and honey.  There was also orange cough syrup involved...it was like my husband forgot he knew me when he brought it home.  I hate cough syrup.  But mixed with orange juice, it is not so bad.

Friday was my first day of subbing.  And needless to say, I was highly impressed with the school.  In fact, one might even call the campus impressive.  Only three years old, the concrete building spreads across an empty lot and is filled with all the newest equipment.  I am also gathering that it is filled with the newest thinking.  Why else would they pretend that they are actual jets?  Their school name is "The Jets."  And instead of employing bells to signal the beginning and end of class, pre-recorded announcements are made over the fuzzy-sounding speaker. Phrases like "depart your stations" and "your journey has ended" continued throughout the day to my puzzled amusement.  However, I accomplished a lot more reading.

Even with cold, we ventured out to a famous BBQ diner.  On the outside, it was fairly shady-looking.  I admit, I was quite nervous to enter.  On the inside, the diner was full of elderly people- it eased my fear a bit.  We were infinitely impressed by the international-winning BBQ sauce and in all our experience and wisdom, we voted the sauce the best.  Then we proceeded to buy four bottles for gifts.

Karl worked this weekend so the rest of the time was me passing the time through books and movies and grocery shopping.  My great temptation is to buy fall decorations and put them all over the house.  I am resisting, and so far, I have only bought fall-scented candles.  I'm holding out for Christmas.

Weekend Collection

This weekend, we drove 12 hours to Pennsylvania from Birmingham.  What a drive.  We ate New Castle food, and we brought some home of course.  We visited friends and family, attended a fall festival, took a Sunday nap, and were apart for our first night.  The husband got his teeth checked, and we drove 10 hours back to Huntsville.

It doesn't sound so busy, but it is surely was.  And while it was nice to go back, it is nice to be here too.