"John, Horse, Hounds & Tractors"

A few highlights from after church while in Madison...

Click here for a video of John riding for the first time ever!

My Commute

I figured I would share with you how I start my morning every day...

Look closely in the side-view mirror...you will see the line of cars...we average 10 mph for 2 miles...everyday.  I call it my attention test, I haven't failed yet!

August, Golf, Tucker

Lots of random thoughts - stick with me...or leave...I don't care...

If you haven't noticed by all the trips that have been taken this month - August has been a great month schedule wise for Andrew.  He has been off every weekend this month and goes in most days about 8:30 and gets home around 2pm except clinic days.  This is wonderful!  Clinic days are essentially a small glimpse of our future life - boy am I ready!  He has been taking care of Tucker in the mornings, which is normally my job because I am last to leave the house, we have played golf, eaten in most nights, sat on the sofa and just chatted...things we haven't done since, college (pre-med school, pre-residency)...heck I am not sure Andrew ever took a weekend off even in college.

Speaking of college - we were formally introduced (we had a lab together but never spoke, so it doesn't count) in August of 2004 by a mutual friend, Erin - she was right - we were perfect for each other.  2004 was a really rough year - GT was kicking my tail, we lost Hamilton (our first dane) in March, a dear family friend that was 24 in a car accident in May, I ended a 2 year relationship the same day that I lost my first grandparent, Papa George in early August...and upon my return to Tech the week after Papa George left us, I met Andrew...it was just what I needed.  And one funny note - my only 4.0's at GT came while dating Andrew...my folks got so mad at me because I spent too much time during the day "with that boy" and not studying.  Little did they know Andrew kicked me out if I wasn't studying because that was what he was doing.  Mom and Dad changed their tune at the end of the term when grades came out.

Andrew and I played in a club championship this weekend...it was a ton of fun and a wonderful experience.  I played "lights out" the first day and shot my worst round ever on the second day...20 strokes difference!  Andrew played decently both days.  Neither of us won nor did we come in last...so it was successful!

Finally - Tucker came to live with us one year ago today!  It was been a wonderful (expensive) year.  He is our source of entertainment most nights and there is no hiding it - he is our baby.  Thanks, MB and Hugh for your "annual month of bad decisions"  we have thoroughly enjoyed this "bad decision."

Tags

We have spotted some interesting tags out here lately...

On a tricked out BWM 7 series..."HowUDoin" 
Translation: How are you doing?

On a mini-van..."TrphyWfe"
Seriously, you are labeling yourself as a trophy wife and driving a mini-van - I thought they drove little sports cars and didn't have kids...

On a Kia sports car..."SxyMoma" 
And how do you explain that one to the kids?

On a ragged out older model Nissan..."runninL8"
Translation: Running Late, now get the heck out of my way...based on my previous post this person needs a GA tag.

An Experiment

While on the road the past two weekends, Andrew and I conducted a highly scientific experiment to confirm that the folks that live in the state we dearly love and currently call home can't drive on the interstate.  We have discovered that around the Jackson area the drivers believe the left lane is the long distance or turning left in 15 miles lane rather than the "fast lane" and they like to drive super slow in this lane. 

So we counted the number of cars sporting Mississippi tags while in Alabama or Georgia that we had to pass in the right lane because they were driving slowly in the left lane - and by slow I mean below the speed limit.  And while I can't remember the exact number let's just say the majority of all cars that had (I mean there was no choice) to be blown by in the right lane because they were going super slow in the left lane had Mississippi tags.

Then we took it a step further and decided to count the number of times we were blown off the road by someone with a Mississippi tag while in another state...can you guess the number?  NONE - zip, not a single time.  It was always Georgia (no wonder slow drivers bother us), Texas, or Alabama. 

So what does this mean - heck no it doesn't mean that we drive too fast (we both have a rule that 8 over the speed limit is all we do - that is no where near what some folks in ATL will do).  Rather it means Mississippi needs the signs that say, "Use Right Lane At ALL Times Except and ONLY When You Are Passing."  Or "Dude - get in the right lane if you are not going the speed limit."  And yes we were bored as heck by the time we were making the drive home for the second time in a week.

Off The Road...Finally...

Here is a recap of the past couple of weekends...

Weekend One: Drove to GA for the PGA Championship, surprise a friend for his 30th, and have brunch with family...

• We went the Saturday round of the PGA with Andrew's dad - it was wonderful, we got to see Phil, nearly got hit by Bubba, and found out that Zack Johnson is smaller than me and YE Yang is super short.  It was wonderful!
• We participated in a early birthday surprise for Adam's 30th!  He was shocked, it was perfect!
• We had brunch with the Ouzts family at Murphy's in Atlanta - Super yummy brunch spot!

Week between One and Two: I left for Asheville, NC first thing Monday for an EDA conference at the Grove Park Inn (picture below).  The weather was amazing, company (the former bosses) was great, and food was wonderful.  Oh and we got dinner on the grounds of the Biltmore at sunset (picture above)...and the house was open just for us...it was awesome!  I was really disappointed that Andrew wasn't with me.

This is the interior of a super cool building downtown

Weekend Two: Drove to GA on Friday night (again), was treated to a manicure and pedicure by Mom at the wonderful spa in Madison, spent the afternoon in the Broad River at Jimbo's, Tucker learned to swim, rode Mom's horse, assist John as he rode Mom's horse, had lunch at Grandmoma's including homemade custard banana pudding, then drove back to MS...We had a blast!  It was a great chance to spend time with everyone and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it...

Tucker discovered a new sleeping position for the car...I don't find it overly comfortable but he says it is nice...

but I will let Tucker close us out because his eyes speak a thousand words...

My View

I am leaving you with this until next week when things slow down some...

PT

Hugh don't kill me please...

Seems that Hugh is doing PT at home these days and John is participating...

Worn Out

This is what happens when Andrew has a rough on-call night at the hospital and Tucker has to get a bath (including his rear-end), his teeth brushed, and his bed and blanket washed...

A/C...A Necessary Item

It you were wondering A/C is very necessary when you live in the South in early August.  Oh and if you live in a new house that was designed to operate with HVAC at all times...I seriously miss houses designed for air flow.  Anyway - yes we got it repaired last night, but not before this happened...

Yes, it says 90 degrees...at 7pm...inside.  However, thanks to Anna's recommendation, I called Climate Masters and they had it repaired before 8:30pm...and by 9pm, we were at a "chilly" 85.  

Not Right...

Andrew has a saying, 'they must call you lefty because you sure aren't right' and we have found that it applies to our wonderfully strange dog all too often.  Point in case - this is how Tucker chews a bone...

He prefers to be spread eagle on his back...not right I tell you, just not right.

Need a Tucker Fix

Do you need a "Tucker Fix" like I need an "ice cream fix?"

Here you go if you do...

"Gotta protect my food.  I dare you to touch my food." or was it, "Momma, stop taking my picture and give me some food."  Or maybe, "Can we go for a walk please?" and he just happened to be sitting beside the food...

Another one...

 "Hi Ms. Vet, I am waiting for you to come see me.  I am going to lick you like crazy as soon as you walk in the door."

And we will call this - the reason I couldn't cut our grass last week.  It looked like this every single day on my way home.

August Cooking Club

Several of you have asked for a "report" on cooking club each month - so here you go...

August Menu (all recipes are from Southern Sideboards, a Junior League of Jackson cookbook):
1) Pork Loin with Apple Glaze - A+++ (Recipe Below) - oh my, this is wonderful.
2) Texas Torte - A+++ (Recipe Below) - egg, cheese, chilies - yes please...
3) Artichoke Willie - A (if you like artichokes) - I loved this because it was basically butter and artichokes...
4) Summer Veggie Casserole - B+ - a little dry, good, but not the best thing ever
5) Marinated Tomatoes - A++ (Recipe Below) - very good with home-grown tomatoes and fresh herbs
6) Popovers - B (it might have something to do with the cook forgetting the milk)
7) Chocolate Ice Box Dessert - A+++++++ (Recipe Below)  - so amazing...just make it...it is worth it.
8) Hot Weather Punch - A+ - very refreshing tea/lemonade combo

Yes, I took pictures from the cookbook - it is easier.  And after we eat, we discuss the recipes so you will see my notes...

 Variations of note on dessert:  Include pecans with vanilla wafers in the "crust" rather than in the chocolate; add vanilla, water, then sugar to the cooled chocolate mixture, it stirs better; you could use coffee or vanilla ice cream rather than butter pecan if you prefer.

A Reminder

Just in case you forgot - today are the primaries in Mississippi.  I am lucky in that the campaigns all felt it necessary to remind everyone living out our way to vote by doing this...

Fairly certain I couldn't drive by the polling place without going, "Oh right - today is election day."