Busy, Busy

Several weeks ago now, Zach and I took the leisurely path to New Orleans by driving the Natchez Trace. This is a beautiful road! It was made to drive. It has soft curves and up and downs. It is just enough to keep you interested, but not enough to make it hard to drive. The leaves were changing. We camped out the first night and stayed with my Mississippi cousins the second night and then we were in New Orleans.

Zach had only been to New Orleans one time previously and that was on a mission trip to help clean up many months after Hurricane Katrina. We were there to go to one of my friends weddings, but we also got to hang out with one of Zach's really good friends. We had a great time eating, hanging out in the French Quarter, going to a Jazz Club (which also had people doing the jitter bug to the music), hanging out in the City Park and thrift store shopping. It was all a blast and the wedding was beautiful. This is a picture of us at the wedding reception.

Following this trip, Zach demolished our bathroom in just 3 days. It is stripped to the studs! Then the Farewell Drifters took off on tour again. I caught up with them in Birmingham for the weekend. Zach will come home tomorrow and the bathroom will begin to be rebuilt starting Monday.

What is Happening In and Around the House?

A Lot!

Fall has come and then left for a week and now is back. The cool weather came in and inspired me to get out my Halloween decorations. Unfortunately I was not able to get it up before the hot weather came back, but I got it up just the same.

During these changes in weather, our mums have bloomed! They are so beautiful and welcome me home everyday:D

Mia has taken a lot of changes. I have never been in charge of an inside kitten. She is either wanting to play, sleeping (on Zach or me) or pottying. All of these involve Zach or me. She takes a lot more than I thought she would. It seems that Zach is falling in love with her.

Take a look at those eyes!

The biggest thing that is happening is....we have decided to redo our guest bathroom. We have been spending any free time talking and looking at tile, toilets, mirrors, sinks, etc. Tonight I just began the destruction. I took the medicine cabinet out and made my first hole in the wall. So much more to go...

A Visit from a Friend

My friend Andrea, one of my bridesmaids, came to visit after living in India for 2 years. I was so excited to see her and catch up on her life abroad. She arrived Friday night and we stayed up until around 1am looking through photos and chatting. We talked a few times while she was there, but it was not nearly the same as having her right here in my living room. I cannot describe how great it was to just be with her.

On Saturday, we headed out to experience Nashville. Andrea has been here 2 times before (once to surprise me for my birthday and for the wedding), so she had seen the classic Nashville tourist scene. So Saturday was filled with more unique sights and sounds and in PERFECT weather (mid 70s and sunny).

First we headed to Celebration of Cultures in Centennial Park. There were several areas. There was an area where there were different tables for different countries. Andrea was able to assist me through these areas, as she is much more cultural aware than I am. It was almost like traveling around the world in just 30 minutes;) The picture below is of me trying on a Vikings hat at the Norway table. You can see a ship in the background that the kids were able to play in. The other areas were goods from around the world, food from around the world (even though Andrea got a BBQ sandwich), and some dancing/music at different stages. All in all, a fun time and free.

Then it was off to Cheekwood to see the Chihuly exhibit. I have been wanting to see the Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood for a while. A friend informed me about a week ago that I could get in free with a Bank of America card, which Andrea, Lisa, and I happened to have. I really enjoyed walking the grounds and seeing Chihuly's pieces intermixed with Cheekwood's well known landscapes. I am pretty sure I loved it most because it was free and PERFECT weather to be outside.

An amazing weekend had by all (or at least by me:D)

If You...

You know those books If You Give a Mouse a Cookie..., etc. Well, I feel that is currently my life. My title is If You Help Your New Neighbors...

And the story goes...If you help your neighbors, they will bring you a lost dog. Once you find the dog's owner, they will bring your a stray kitten. That is right folks. I know have a very pretty kitten in my house. That is not the end of the story.

If you take in a stray kitten, you will find out it has fleas. You decide that giving a kitten a bath is a good idea. Two hours later, there are still fleas on the kitten. If you are going to find a home for the kitten, you have to get rid of all the fleas. When you take the kitten to the vet for fleas, you find out the kitten also has mites in her ears and heart worms. Once you spend over $100 on the kitten, you feel like you are now the owner of a kitten whether that was your plan or not.

That is my story.

And here is our kitten (maybe temporary, maybe permanent)....

Why Not?

On Wednesday nights, I go to a Zumba class at the YMCA that I LOVE. After class this last week, there was a lady who made an announcement that there was going to be a casting call for a new Curves commercial dealing with Zumba. She said they did not want actresses and/or models. I thought, why not?

So, yesterday, I stopped by for the casting. What did I find? Actresses/models! I thought, "What am I doing?" It was pretty stinking hilarious. They wanted to know my agency, sizes, etc. They also wanted a portfolio. I don't know what that lady was talking about. But, I was there, so why not. I went into the casting room. We were told to introduce ourselves to a video camera and then they turned on Latin music and I was supposed to dance. Lets just say that if I were the one watching the video, I would be on the floor laughing.

Oh well, it was a fun experience.

Role Reversal

Usually when we travel, I am tagging along with the band. When we get wherever we are going, I have no obligations until show time. My choice is usually to wander around the town while the boys do whatever they need to do. Well, this past weekend, Zach and I took a trip to DC to see my friend Ashley get married.

Well, this weekend, I was the one with obligations and Zach was free to explore. I was a bridesmaid. My duties included, rehearsals, hair, makeup, help with decor, etc. Zach on the other hand was able to explore DC including the Smithsonian, a sculpture garden, and Mount Vernon. I believe he really enjoyed himself. I really enjoyed myself as well. The wedding was beautiful! I unfortunately did not take any pictures of Zach or myself or even of the bride. Oops. I can't wait to see the photographers pictures.

After the wedding, we drove the long way home by taking the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here is a picture from that part of our trip...

Too Long

It has been so long since I posted, I have been procrastinating starting again because of how much I have to catch up on. Some things that come to mind are Colorado, a man climbing our trees, the woman on the downtown sidewalk, beginning of a new school year, creating a photo book, etc. But, what I am going to start with telling you about is my impulse buy today.

So, about a month ago now, my sister got me to sign up for Groupon (a daily coupon for something in your area). I get an email everyday with the coupon of the day. I have been slightly interested in one or two of them, but for the most part just immediately delete them. Well, today the coupon was for one of my secret desires....laser hair removal. I have told Zach several times that if we had money to spend, I would get lasik and laser hair removal. Today's coupon was for 85% off laser hair removal. I hardly ever make an impulsive buy. And when I do, it is for something that is 50 cents, not for larger ticket items. But, today I broke out of my mold. I am both excited and nervous about this adventure. What have I done?