Happy Halloween!!!

Ahhh...memories. This was Halloween about 7 or 8 years ago in Birmingham. Tina as Elvira, Ann as a go-go dancer (too bad you can't see the thigh-high boots) and I am, well...some sort of feisty feline, I guess. :) That was a fun night! Wore those same contacts to work today, but no kids came in for me to scare...oh well. ;-p
Not sure what stained the picture, so I have a curious little 'spirit' on my shoulder now...I guess he fits, doesn't he?
Hope you all have a hauntingly Happy Halloween!!!!!

To cut or not to cut...the cat

No, we didn't get to dissect the cats today...they were already done for us. So instead we just poked, prodded and pointed...and we had the biggest cat! That thing was at least 3 feet long (stretched out like he was) and weighed around 20 lbs! I think it must have been a feral cat, because in a house this thing would have been dangerous! Cool to look at, though...
I know it's fall...but we had flurries this morning! Nothing to write home about (apparently blogs don't count), but when I saw the tiny little raindrops (barely sprinkling) become little white things that landed on my car and then melted...well...it has been over two years since we've had to deal with snow! I think the higher elevations may have gotten a dusting this morning, but it warmed up to a beautiful (and brisk!) 52 degrees today. The colors are definitely starting to pop! We may get a visit from my mom and Scot this weekend and it should be sunny and in the 60's...perfect fall weather. Lon still has yet to take advantage of our early voting, but I'm hoping he'll head down there tomorrow...I don't know about you, but I think we are TOTALLY ready for some change. I know I am.
Well...only 6 weeks left in this semester...can't believe how fast it really does fly by. I've been told by some RN's that once I'm in the Nursing program those 2 years will feel more like 6 months...I don't know about that, but I am looking forward to graduating and getting my license! Watch out...stay safe...because you never know where I might end up working!!!! :)

I Voted!

I didn't think it'd feel so good to be a part of the Democratic process...or at least think I'm a part of it. There are those that feel winning candidates are chosen long before we vote...but I'll play ignorant and be proud of doing my civic duty. :)
We had a blast this weekend! Saturday morning we got up and drove over Suck Creek Road (what a great name!), one of the prettiest drives in town to the 'other side' of Signal Mountain to a little town called Whitwell. There we visited Ketner's Mill Country Fair. We saw how sorghum molasses is made (imagine a horse, hooked up to some big sticks turning a mill to crush sugar cane, having the sugar cane juice drop onto what looked like corrugated roofing, drip down onto a cheesecloth covering a barrel...mmm, mmm...no thank you. Never did like it when I thought it just came out of a jar, either. We checked out the local crafts and, of course, had to have a peach fried pie. Best one I've ever had, too! Gorgeous weather all day...brisk and sunny, high's got up to around 65 later in the day. After the fair (that didn't take too long), we headed toward Lookout Mountain and Rock City. Lon had never been and it's been about 20 years since I was there last. We highly recommend a visit! Breathtaking views, amazing rock formations, crazy day-glo fairy tale scenes in underground caverns, and yes, you can see seven states from one spot (according to RC staff). Here's the guide:
Basically you are standing on the edge of a cliff and if you look in the direction indicated you can see mountains and landmarks in each of the 7 states noted. Pretty cool...all I know is that I could see the corn maze below us, lots of mountains in the distance and a nuclear power plant. But the views are totally amazing! Here's a few more pics from Rock City...

Little Boy Blue sleeping in Mother Goose Village...the cavern is pitch black and the little people are lit by black lights...very cool. That could be Jack (be nimble...) over to the right...


Lover's Leap...I'm sure you've heard a story very similar...two crazy kids in love, family doesn't agree, throws dude off cliff, chick takes a nose dive afterwards. Very sad...great view!

Which state is that??? I do believe you are looking at GA and SC in this pic.

Ahhh, Rocktoberfest...Chicken Dance, anyone? Nothing quite as good as an ice cold beer on the top of a mountain surrounded by polka music and families with small children. Certainly improved our afternoon!
Guess that's it for now...I'll probably post some more later...or tomorrow...or the next day. Guess you'll have to check back!

Anniversary 'Trip'

Since we've been married, Lon and I have been fortunate enough to take a trip for each of our anniversaries. This year things are a bit different, so we're taking a 'staycation' and becoming tourists in and around Chattanooga. We have done a lot of exploring, but have yet to do some of the touristy stuff. Tomorrow morning we're going to a real country fair...you know, the kind with the 3 C's (clogging, cakes-funnel, that is, and crafts). Then we'll be off to Rock City to see seven states and enjoy the German Oktoberfestival they have going on. We may try to hit one of the area cornfield mazes, but I don't know that I'm up to a haunted house...we'll see! Sunday I think we're going to do a nice brunch and then head out to explore wherever the Jeep takes us...The weather is cooperating as we had a cold front move in last night and we should see high's in the mid-to-upper 60's and sunshine all weekend! Maybe the cooler air will persuade the fall colors to come on out, too.
Well, the debates are over (thank goodness!) and TN has early voting...I can vote 6 days a week for the next two weeks...which means NOT waiting in line on Nov 4th. I was going to go today, but I'll be studying for a Monday test and getting ready for our fun weekend...I'll vote next week. :) It's nice having the option to get in there early!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well!!!

Happy Saturday!

Sorry it's taken me so long to update...but a lot has been going on! The country/world is in a government/Wall Street-made crisis, the election is turning very negative (Thanks, John), I made an A on my A&P midterm (Woo Hoo!), and the colors are starting to turn (yeah, Fall!). Whew...that's a lot.

I would like to remind everyone of a very important fact. My good friend, Christine, did the same thing on her blog. Life is short...be grateful for every minute you can spend enjoying life and being with the ones you love. None of us have been promised tomorrow. I hope we all get many of them, but there are no guarantees. Live, love, laugh...always has been one of my favorite sayings. Every morning that I get to walk at the Riverpark, I leave my MP3 player at home so I can soak up every bit of this beautiful land that surrounds me. I appreciate the fact that I'm not injured or diseased and can walk freely, I don't have asthma and can breath easily, I'm not blind or deaf so I can hear and see the birds, trees, river and other people enjoying the park. I know this whole financial thing has got everyone stressing out about where their 401K is invested, if their stocks are plummeting and what they are going to do about retirement. Money isn't everything...there is so much else to enjoy and cherish. Maybe I'm able to say that because we don't have any money, but we are happy anyway. Very happy...Sure, things could be better everywhere. We could make more money (there's that word again), live in our own home instead of an apartment surrounded by neighbors we wish we didn't have, be able to travel whenever the mood hits...those things will come in time. But being married to your best friend, knowing that your family is doing well, living in a beautiful, friendly city surrounded by rivers, lakes and mountains...those things make us truly happy.

I hope you have more happy things in your life than you can count. :)

Ready to open your mind???

Lots going on right now...I have two midterms next week, so studying is a priority. The weather is absolutely amazing, so having all the windows/doors open is fantastic! Tonight Lon and I are going to the Three Sisters Bluegrass Festival on the river in downtown Chatt. That should be a lot of fun...unfortunately we were unable to attend Wine Over Water, but we'll get to walk past it! Maybe next year...This town has so much going on and a ton of it is FREE (one of my favorite four-letter words!) The MI/Illinois game is coming on shortly, so GO BLUE...let's hope they can pull off another conference win. Woo Hoo!
Lon and I also discovered an eye-opening movie. If you are capable of and/or interested in learning some alternative views of what you've probably grown up believing, I definitely recommend it. It is two hours long, so if you can hook your computer up to your TV it makes for a great evening film.
This is the official website: http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
Or this is the movie on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kHhc67GopM
I will warn you...it's sobering. It's very interesting, but not uplifting. I have not done all the research to guarantee you this is true, but it sure does make a lot of sense. I can promise it will make you think. Zeitgeist means the spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time. (www.dictionary.com)
Let me know what you think!!!