Fourth of July Recap

What is better than a Fourth recap a week after the actual Fourth?   Absolutely nothing that's what.

Our day started out with a quick run down at the trail -- the weather was perfect!  After that we headed to the store to get some meat to smoke, because what else do you do on a national patriotic holiday?  We smoked chicken wings and big ole pork butt.  

After that, we blew up our gangsta blow-up pool and relaxed in it ..the whole damn day. After baking in the sun all day -- we packed up a few drinks, our portable grill, our tailgate chairs and headed downtown to stake out a spot for the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks show over Vulcan.

Then onto the Blue Monkey for me to try scotch for the first time -- it was flipping terrible.  Luckily, the lovely foreign bartender knew exactly what I should be drinking, and he made that for me.  Then at least I got to enjoy my post-firework beverage.

i loved this little kid and his sparkler.

It was definitely an awesome day.  Hope everyone had a great Fourth remembering exactly why we get to celebrate in freedom every year!

Memorial Day 2014

Our Memorial Day consisted of laying out in the sun with our mini blow up pool.  I'm aware that we probably look like rednecks, but guess what?  

A fence is going up, so it won't be as visible to the neighborhood as it once was.  Hot dogs were grilled, a pork butt was smoked, Ramen noodle salad was made and a double layer strawberry shortcake was baked. 

Stella went in the pool.  She hated it.  

But mostly, it was a day for giving thanks to our soldiers and remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we could enjoy all of the above.

this was before she was thrown in the pool.  where she obviously thought she was going to die.  have you ever seen a dog doggie paddle while not even in the water?  this dog is special!

Ramen noodle salad -- see recipe below.

double layer strawberry shortcake.  yep, i'm aware of how ugly it is.

Ramen Noodle Salad

for the salad:

- 1 package shredded cabbage ( I just buy the bagged coleslaw stuff)

- 2 packs Ramen noodles

- 4 green onions, chopped.

for the dressing:

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 Tbsp sugar

- 1 cup oil

- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar

- 1 flavor packet from noodle package

Directions:  

- Mix ingredients and pour over salad.

So simple, yet so delicious.

Hope y'all had a great Memorial Day!

Easter 2014

So while everyone did their Easter recaps yesterday, I was too busy getting strep throat.

Thank you New Orleans for that.  For some reason lately New Orleans has been rejecting me, and the strep is the last straw.  I think that Jazz Fest may be the end of NOLA for me until it decides to love me again.

I spent the weekend with Lindsey at her new place.  On Easter Sunday, we got up an super early to go and watch the fancy and short Easter parade.  If you are a kid, you hit jackpot at that parade especially if you dig stuffed animals.  

We had Easter dinner at Dat Dog (more on that later), and then I drove on home.  Where I promptly got sick.  Hooray.

Hope you had a great Easter!

St. Patty's

There are plenty of reasons why I don't necessarily like St. Patrick's Day.  My grandfather died on St. Patrick's Day; I had one of the worst days of my life on St. Patrick's Day.

While I do occasionally enjoy a green beer or a boiled potato; I would much rather just not celebrate the holiday at all.

But I did.  I went down to New Orleans.  Went to a few parades, where you give away kisses for fake flowers.  It was quite the spectacle.  I was also only a little shocked to find that out.  But then of course, having a garter put on your leg by an attractive Italian acting man?  I was totally okay with that.

And seeing as how Ms. Lindsey lives there now, you can pretty much guess I'll be down there all the time.

I sure hope y'all had a great St. Patty's Day!

Black Jacket Symphony does The Boss

I'll be as honest as possible; I did not know much about this symphony until the day I got to see them.

I honestly thought they were like a real orchestra type thing; you know, black tie, fancy champagne sipping type of folks.

So I was intrigued when I heard on BMR (Birmingham Mountain Radio...seriously, listen to them if you don't already) that they were coming and doing Springsteen's Born to Run on New Year's Eve.

BRUUUUUUUUCE!!

So, um, where do I sign up?!  

The night as I'm getting ready to go, I look them up.  Find out that, indeed, they are not a symphony orchestra.  At.  All.  Stupid feelings aside, I put on my sparkly skirt, heels and sweater and head to show.

I get there early, not early enough to get a seat, but early enough to get front row.  As in, I could park myself there until the show started.  

And when it did?  I freaking rocked it out.  Tim Brantley played Bruce, and he did an amazing job.  Plus, he's super pretty, so it was really fun to be that close.

Sorry for the blur on some of them; for some reason, I find it incredibly difficult to take pictures even though I'm in the front row. 

The one terrible moment during the show was when the drunk, overly plastic lady decided to shove her way to the front during Pink Cadillac.  I felt the need to say something to her, but didn't want to ruin my New Year's Eve with some crazy person.  That was the night I vowed to keep my elbows high at shows, like, why you running into my elbows, man? 

Fortunately for me, she left when that song was over.  

I will definitely go and see these guys when they bring their next show to the Ham.  Y'all should see if they're coming near you too.

2014

(image via google images)

2014.

Another damn year.

I'm not sad to see 2013 go, but I don't know if I'm happy to see 2014 here either.  There have been so many eye-opening things to happen to me in 2013, most of them that I wish would have opened them further.

But as in that old saying goes, life is a bitch.  

So I don't necessarily have any resolutions for 2014, but more a few things I would like to accomplish.

Number 1:  Move the heck out of Alabama.  I haven't been happy here in forever; I've wanted to move since the second I got here.  2014 is going to make it happen.

Number 2:  Deactivate Facebook, and that's done.  It's too easy for people to be hurtful, whether it's being defriended by someone, or having to see the opinions of close-minded people posted for the world to see, just for the purpose of starting an argument.  I'm done with it.

Number 3:  Stop trusting everybody.  Not everybody is acting in your best interest; not everybody cares what happens to you.

Number 4:  Get a pixie cut.  I'm going bold this year.  

Number 5:  Learn more about politics.  Maybe even prepare myself to vote in the next election?  Maybe that's asking too much.  Probably, but we'll see.

Number 6:  Go back to school.  Whether that means going to get my MBA or go to beauty school, it's going to happen.

I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year's Eve.  I'm looking forward to sharing another year.  

PS.  Sorry for all of the listing posts.  This is the last one for a while.  Promise.

Christmas in KC

Want to be jealous for just a sec?  (Well unless you live in the arctic circle of the US)

I had a white Christmas!  

It was so great to be able to spend Christmas with my dad, step-mom and step-brother & new wife.   It was great to be able to just get away from work for awhile, to drink, eat, and watch Packer football.  Even to actually get my back hot, because it was cold enough to sit in front of a fire.

Which I did.  Even when it was burning the crap out of my back, because well, down in these parts, a fire is hardly called for.

I don't have too much to say, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

saying good-bye to my baby girl.

dad's christmas tree.

irish coffee after dinner.

half marathon training don't stop just because it's christmas.

brats for the packer game.

z-man from oklahoma joe's.  oh yes.

                            

                            

                            

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas filled with fun, family and friends!