Congratulations are in Order

I need to shout out "CONGRATULATIONS" to several good buddy, ol' pals!

First to the newly weds - The Doctors Parks...aka John and Laura!  Both are residents at UMC with Andrew.  John was Andrew's upper level during his very first month of residency and I think both of us will tell you he was a blessing.  Andrew got started on the right foot thanks to John.  Laura is Med/Peds with Andrew and what a sweet person she has been to both of us.  Their beautiful wedding was last weekend here in Jackson.

Next up - the two newest passers of the Georgia Bar Exam - Congratulations to lifelong friend and "soon to be neighbor" Ms Bethany Whetzel and fellow Sigma Chi wife and great friend Mrs Jennie Wilson!  Awesome job, ladies!!

And finally - parents to be - the Koetter's of the Adam and Katherine variety and the Wade's of the Dave, Angela, and Brittany variety.  Adam and Katherine are expecting a certainly beautiful little girl (Lyla Gray) in early November - my money is for next Tuesday - i want to share a birthday and name with her!!  Dave, Angela and Brittany are currently at the hospital awaiting the arrival of little James David!!  Can't wait to meet both little bundles of joy!!

Brilliant, Tucker. Just Brilliant.

We actually got some rain yesterday and last night - like the real stuff that last longer than 2 minutes and actually wets the ground!!  And even better it is still raining this morning (which means Andrew's round of golf on his day off isn't going to happen (he is not happy)). 

Brilliant Tucker decided that it would be really smart to take his "under the covered porch" blanket out into the middle of the yard during the rain late yesterday afternoon.  Luckily for him, it stopped raining just as he took it out from under its protection from the elements.  So while I was recovering my ceramic pot (formerly holding rosemary, which he ate) that was originally located in the middle of the patio table from the yard, I picked up his blanket so it would be dry for him in the morning.  He obviously does not appreciate all the effort I put into providing him with a soft, dry blanket on which to rest.

The Train Engineer

I must admit something here and now - I am obsessed with trains!  It started at a very young age and hasn't stopped.  If I had the pictures scanned I would prove this but as a kid I would fall asleep while riding my little green train around on its figure-8 track.  I also was a train engineer for Halloween more than once.  And here Today I still love to chase trains (meaning - hear the train coming, hop on the bike and ride as quickly as possible to the tracks to watch it), watch them pass, and go to switch-yards.

That said - the fact that John loves trains as much as I did/do, means that kid is really a part of me.  He is obsessed...if he is upset and you need to get him to claim down, ask him do you hear a train?  Done, not another sound.  If the train passes through downtown OS when he is around, you will be stuck until he waves bye-bye to the last car.  If he is at CC's and Mac's all he wants to do is watch for the train and play with the electric train Mac bought for him at a yard sale.  It is only fitting that his Halloween costume this year is a train engineer - and of course there are pictures to share so I am not the only one dying from cutie-pie-ness.

Do you see the leather gloves in his pocket??  I am telling you this kid is going to kill me with his cutie-pie-ness...it must end.  MB go ahead and have another one because I can't handle just one.

Note to Self

When we have kids, they will never, ever be allowed to watch a (crappy) Tech game with Andrew.  All I hear coming from the living room right now is... "We are kicking our own a$$.  $h!t Tech, What the F...?  We can't even catch a f...ing cold!  I wanna see them review that $h!t, but they still won't get it right.  F..........k Tech, we can't arm tackle all day!  F'in A, Stephen Hill you are disappointing me.  When its a three and out its not a (something I couldn't understand), you dip$h!t." 

I'll let it rest at that, but no joke, no kids will ever be allowed to watch Tech play (like crap) with Andrew. 

In his defense, he has, can, and will tone it down a bit when young ears are around.

I just find it really entertaining - at times I think he is just trying to toss a "dirty" word into every sentence or sometimes just makes them a one word sentence.  Oh and poor Tucker, he doesn't understand what all the yelling and clapping and beating the ottoman is all about.

You're Killing Me Brooks Brothers...

So as if it isn't bad enough that I get daily emails from Brooks Brothers and Restoration Hardware tempting me with their beautiful, handsome, delightful products, I just got an email from Brooks Brothers introducing their "Home" Collection!  I mean really, this is killing me. 

Perfectly pressed white linen bedding with a navy herringbone cording, come on - tell me you wouldn't love to see that in a guest room.  And don't even get me started on the oxford blue collection - perfect for John's room! 

Oh Lord help me...

Tuck-Man

Took these last night with my phone (crappy quality - but at least I took some)...

Growth Chart

We are asked all the time for growth updates on Tucker - so here you go...

HE IS MASSIVE!!

Just kidding, Tucker's back is now at the level of my hand when I stretch my arm straight down with my hand bent at a 90 degree angle (is that too scientific??). His head is at my waist - so we are now to...hummm...I would guess about 32" tall at his shoulders. I don't know how long he is but I can tell you he is longer than my legs are long. There is a picture below comparing my leg to his body - and it was taken about 3 weeks ago now. We are guessing he is about 80 pounds or more now.

Shot...

I got my flu shot - have you? And as a reward for being a big girl, I got a pair of pecan rolls out of the vending machine!!

Hamilton

Wanna know how big Hamilton was??

Freshman Year...

Sam - aka - typical Techie...

Fran, Jess, MB, and Laura - MB was borrowing clothes from me and needed to "try it on"

Another bites the dust - poor Christie - this happened often.

Jess and Christie - they will kill me...sorry girls!

Awesome Idea...

Need to take a ladder to a friend's house but don't have a truck - no worries, just use the sunroof! Steven gets credit for this picture, which, I believe, was taken in Alabama over the weekend.

Easton Corbin

We went to the State Fair last night to hear Easton Corbin - a new up and coming country star that has already had a couple of hits. He was just as good live as on the radio - which can be rare these days.

And while at the MS State Fair you do not pass up on the opportunity to eat something fried...so we shared a chicken-on-a-stick and fried green tomatoes from Penn's, then after the concert Andrew had a fried Snickers (honestly, it was batter in funnel cake, then deep fried, it was amazing) and I, of course, had a funnel cake - and it was one of the biggest funnel cakes I have ever seen!

Back Story (read if you care): We had briefly discussed going but didn't make any plans, and Andrew just assumed that I decided not to go. But I found out that Kim and her husband, Cory, were going and I decided that it would be fun for all of us to go. So I called and asked Andrew at about 4:30pm and he had several very valid reasons for not going, and I wasn't dead set on going or not, so I wouldn't have been upset either way - so I agreed, we wouldn't go. But I had to stay at work for a after work meeting until 6 and didn't have my phone on me during the meeting so much to my surprise and delight, Andrew was waiting on me in the parking lot as I walked out at 6pm ready to go to the Fair. AWWW...How sweet??

Hiii Yaaa...

Oh my - John has really done me in this time...

Dear Mother Nature

This is supposed to be Fall. It is the season just before Winter and after Summer. The temperature is supposed to be mild (highs in the mid to upper 70's and lows in the low to mid 50's). The humidity is supposed to start decreasing, and there are some rain showers mixed in with bright sunshine. However, the temperature is not supposed to reach the 30's in October, nor is it to reach to the 90's. Oh and wind - that is the Spring event - not Fall. And one more thing - if I get sick because you decided that the temperature should be 38 in the morning and 90 in the afternoon - I will be done with you forever -

Thanks -

Lover of the True Fall, not this crap!

What to do?

What does one do when you have followed all instructions and saved everything to the server on the planning drive and then the server magically deletes the planning drive?

Well, you first thank heavens that the internet didn't go out with the server, then if you are me, you hit up pgatour.com and watch the Ryder Cup live while you track the leader board at the Viking Classic. Finally, you hope they can't get it fix and you will get sent home early enough to snag two more tickets to the Viking Classic and you get out there and watch some golf in person!!