Funny thing happened on the way to Wal-Mart...

...we ended up 140 miles SE of Chattanooga in a little town called Helen. Helen, GA. Alpine Helen to be exact. Did you know there was a German/Bavarian-themed city in the mountains of Northern GA??? Neither did we until a week or so ago. Got up Tuesday morning, loaded the recycling, planned to go grocery shopping, ended up in a little town 3 hours away over two mountains in another state. Lon is so proud of me for becoming more spontaneous. I'd say this was pretty spontaneous! Especially since, after having a great time and not quite ready to leave, we found a cheap hotel room (on the Chattahoochee River no less!) and stayed the night. No toothbrushes, no change of clothes, no deodorant! Luckily for us the weather was pleasant, almost fall-like. Driving over the mountain the temp got down to 69 degrees and in town it was in the 70's with a nice breeze. Had some yummy German beers, some brat/knock/bierwurst & cheeses and enjoyed the cute little town. Lon wouldn't let me buy him any lederhosen, but was all for me getting one of the cute little St. Pauli girl dresses! Most of the town was closed (off-season) but they were getting ready for the Annual GA H.O.G. Rally that was headed into town today. They also have one of the longest Oktoberfestivals in the nation...lasting from 9/11-11/2 this year. Guess they do a full on Christmas thing, too. Got to have some way to pull the tourists in...this place is definitely OFF the beaten path. Beautiful drive, though...can totally see why the bikers love it so. It's smack dab in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest...winding mountain roads, waterfalls, gorgeous vistas, all with a little taste of Germany. They also have a year-round haunted house...Haunted Helen. Very creepy, even in the daytime. Especially the Headless Horseman...see the hazy image...why would that be hazy when the others were all clear? Had fun, met some friendly & some not-so-friendly people, but maybe the economy has got them down, too. Wouldn't imagine they've had a banner year. If interested, check out www.helenga.org.
Instead of coming home on Wed, Lon decided it might be fun to check out Little Five Points in Atlanta...give the big city another try. Well, we found it and we still don't like it ('It' being Atlanta...Little Five Points wasn't bad). Found a cool incense burner and had some yummy food, but the overcrowded, big city thing...WAY overrated! Guess we've always been small(er) town folk at heart. Good to be home...
Here's some more fun pics from our impromptu getaway:

8th Grade Reunion

Yes, I said 8th grade...not high school. And what a good time it was! A group of about 25 of us were all in the same class from 5th-8th grade at William J. Christian Elementary School in Birmingham. After that we went to a variety of different high schools. Some of us kept in touch, a lot of us didn't. Thanks to the ever-popular Facebook, we decided to plan a reunion. Saturday, August 15th we got together at Black Market Bar in Birmingham. George, one of the FB-er's, owns it. There were yummy drinks, delish eats, horrible/funny/embarrassing/silly photos from way-back-when, old yearbooks and LOTS of catching up and reminiscing. It was a fantastic night! I care nothing about going to a high school reunion, but this I would do again and again...great time. So good to see everyone and couldn't believe they ALL look just the same as when we left 8AC 22 years ago (well...not the same, better hair and fashion choices last night than 8th grade)! Some people have 5 kids, some have none; some are married, some are looking; all were great to see. A few of us ventured over to George's other bar (Speakeasy) in downtown B'ham. More fun, more drinks, more picture taking. Felt like a regular youngster staying out til 3 am...haven't done that in a LONG time. Gonna sleep good tonight, but so glad I went. The pic at the beginning is our homage to Charlie's Angels...5th-8th grade the three of us (Jennifer, Christy and me) were pretty much inseparable! Here's some more pics from the evening's festivities...

Been a busy few weeks

Sorry it's been a while...been a little busy. Started work as a Patient Care Tech at a local hospital. Still in orientation/training, but I'm on the floor now. Also, school just started last week. So between two night classes and 2-3 7a-7p shifts a week, I haven't really been thinking about updating. The header pic is real...one I took when Lon and I visited Arrington Vineyards a few weeks ago. That lunch was delicious! Gorgeous setting and they have live music every weekend in the summer. We left before that started (had been planning to check out the National Cornbread Festival, but traffic was a bitch...ended up at the winery instead!) since we'd already been there for some time. We've already made plans to go back with a picnic lunch, chairs and a sheet to spend a leisurely afternoon. It's just south of Nashville in Arrington, TN if you get the chance to stop by. And they have 'real' wine, not the fruit or muscadine stuff. Those are very popular around here since traditional wine grapes don't like our weather/soil. And there are plenty of people who love those wines...just not us. However, we currently have some homemade wine fermenting and will let you know how it turns out. Gotta find a hobby, right?

When it rains, it pours...

Well...we didn't exactly have the textbook romantic Valentine's weekend. Lon and I both worked Saturday night (yuck...it was super busy!), but we did get to hang out after with birthday boy, Josh and some of his friends (yeah!). Meanwhile, my mom was at a TN hospital visiting her dad as he was dying. My grandfather (Daddy Jr.) passed away Sunday morning. :( To help cheer me up, Lon took me on a Chattanooga road trip looking at houses. And we actually found one we were interested in and might be able to afford (even on our current income!)...but Monday morning we were let go from our crappy jobs that we were looking to leave anyway...unfortunately it wasn't on our terms though. SOOOO....we spent yesterday drowning our sorrows, bitching about the &%$! that dissolved our jobs, and drunk dialing people...sorry if you got one of those calls! We did decide two good things to do in the midst of all the crap. #1...we're going to Gallatin, TN tomorrow after I get out of class to be with my mom and her family at the memorial service for Daddy Jr. #2...after spending Wed night in Gallatin, we're heading north to MI to see Lon's parents for a long weekend...we haven't seen them in 3 YEARS! We'll get to say good-bye to Daddy Jr and hello to the Jordans. Just have to remember there is ALWAYS a silver lining to every dark cloud (you just have to look for it and recognize it for what it is).
That being said, we're making the best of it. Yes, we are now among the growing unemployed population, but it gives us a push to find something different and better to do. Something we were half-ass working on will now be our FULL time job! :) We're going to visit family and enjoy all the things we still have to be grateful for. Plus, what a good incentive to get in great shape! No insurance...better not get sick...and being healthy keeps you from needing medical intervention, right?
I am still amazed at the goings on of this past weekend, but am confident that Lon and I will pull ourselves up by our bootstraps (like we normally do) and make it work out for the best.

Daddy Jr, I really wish you could have met Lon. You two would have gotten along famously. I'll miss you very much. I love you.

T25DOC...Complete!

Here are the pics from 10th to the 25th...I know I'm back tracking a bit, but you're getting pics from my book and summaries this time...I'm glad I did it, but it's definitely a responsibility trying to journal every single day! Lon loves it! I think I'll try this again for our next road trip or significant outing...
12/10, Wed: A&P final, finished Christmas cards, worked on model roller coaster

12/11, Thurs: Rainy, worked on T25DOC, put up Christmas decs at work

12/12, Fri: Worked...watched City of Angels, cried like a baby...again!

12/13, Sat: Bad day at work...already blogged about that. Loved Prince Caspian (Chron. of Narnia)

12/14, Sun: BWW after work with friends

12/15, Mon: Got up, worked..yadda, yadda, yadda

12/16, Tues: Off all day, got lots done, errands/chores/groceries, watched Bed of Roses (great chick flick)

12/17, Wed: Love Ellen...always makes me laugh, got funky bindis to celebrate holidays

12/18, Thurs: Nothing exciting going on...

12/19, Fri: Lon & I both off by 3, went to Rio Picante for drinks, won NFL tickets for Sunday (Titans v. Steelers)

12/20, Sat: Worked all day, people in surprisingly good moods, trying to decide whether or not to go to Nashville tomorrow

12/21, Sun: Road Trip! Went to game, checked out Broadway (downtown Nashville), quick trip, but fun

12/22, Mon: Crazy run on old merchandise...last minute shoppers love discounts!

12/23, Tues: Another good day at work, crazy traffic, Christmas Bonus!

12/24, Wed: Christmas Eve, worked until 4:30, out for Mexican, home to open Christmas Eve prizes...


12/25, Thurs: Christmas Day! Great food, company and prizes...quiet day at home watching movies and hanging out with my best bud and hubby, Lon! Love you Baby...
That's it...all done. :)