Wednesday, November 21, 2007

The depiction of my life


I do not know how it happened, but at some point last night during community group we scrounged for the few, meager childhood photos that Zach and I possess. Upon being found, there were many laughs about Zach's curly hair, my out of control hair, as well as the few that showed my hair long. It was funny. However, in the stack, I found this one. The picture was taken in Moundsville, WVa, in front of our house. I remember this hill very well. To me, it was a mighty mountain full of adventure, fear, and excitement.

However, as I gazed upon this momento of my younger days, I realized this was the epitamy of my life--both hands on the handlebar, full speed ahead, and enjoy the ride. This Thanksgiving, as always, my senses are heightened to the blessing of my life. I have had one heck of a journey thus far, and I am thankful for the thousands of individuals who have watched me squeal past them on two of my three wheels! To my fellow Big Wheel riders--ride on!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

You might be a Redneck Cruiser if:



You ask the cruise director for a fishing pole.

The whole family boards the ship with truck inner tubes over their shoulder cuz they heard there’s a pool on board.

The charcoal grills are smokin’ in the parking lot as people tail-gate before boarding the ship.

Your wife wins the "Hairy Legs" contest!

You save the shrimp for bait.

You belch after your meal, because you want them to know you appreciate the vittles.

You take out your pocket knife at dinner to cut up your steak.

You ask the waiter on Lido deck for an extra cup to spit your tobacco in.

Your family reunion has multiple cabins booked.....and every cabin has a Jim-Billy-Joe-Bob in it.

The family sits down for dinner and promptly tuck their napkins into their shirts or tie them around their necks.

You don't recognize anything on the menu so you ask your waiter for either squirrel or possum.

You go to the muster(d) drill looking for hotdogs.

Your good lugage is a styrofoam cooler with duck tape on it.

You steal the toilet paper out of the bathroom before you debark.

Nobody had to give you the "duct tape" tip.... you already had it packed.

Security tells you you cannot bring either your pole, tackle box, or bass boat on board. (or wire pliers!!!)

You think free range chicken means you get an oven with your chicken.

You think midnight buffet is Jimmy Buffet's daughter.

You only put your teeth in for formal night.

The bartender asks if you have an ID, you say "bout what?"

You clean your fingernails with that little fork all the way on the left of the plate.

You complain at the desk that someone keeps breaking into your room and making up your bed.

The waiter pulls your wife’s chair out so she can sit down at the dinner table you think he’s trying to pull the chair out from under her so you punch him.

You scream the first time you flush the cabin’s toilet thinking something has grabbed hold of your butt.

At the Captain’s reception you ask him if he knows The Skipper.

You're disappointed the dance club doesn't have a mechanical bull.

While on an excursion, you complain that the place is "crawlin' with foreigners!"

If taking your wife on cruise means circling the Dairy Queen.

The cruise ship looses both of your custom "Hefty Bag" suitcases and you have to go the whole cruise with only one NASCAR hat.

You get into an arguement with the purser because they won't take your Sams Club card as a deposit on your Sail-n-Sign account.

You make it a point to show your wife how poor the people in foriegn countries are because none of them have any cars sitting on blocks in their yards.

You have to have two different dining times on formal night because the "Family Suit" fits more than one person. (And after the cruise you have to return it to the Funeral home)

You try to get the gold ship on a stick appraised.

The full moon seen on deck is from you bending over to pick up another beer out of your cooler.

You go to the funnel deck hoping to find all you can eat funnel cakes.

You have to paint Crescents on the Indoor Plumbing doors so your kin can find them.

Your waiter asks for your order (in his/her accent) and you say "Yew aint from 'round here, are ya?"

You get kicked out of the pool for trying to light the bubbles with your bic.

You see absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing your steward by the head and giving him "noogies" when you run into him in the hall.

You ask the camp carnival counslers to play the tapes you brought to keep the youngins quiet. (Green acres and dukes of hazzard episodes.)

You go to the jogging track and complain that the turns are not banked.

You ask the captain if he could fly the checkered flag just a little.

You bring duct tape AND Bondo, jes in case the ship hits an iceburg.

You decorate your hat all over with the drink umbrellas then strut around proudly like yer the first redneck who ever thunk of it.

You know you’re on a redneck cruise when lobster night is replaced with beanie-wienies.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Christmas in the Caribbean!






A few months ago, my parents announced to the family that in lieu of wrapped boxes this year for Christmas we would be sailing one of the seven seas on a Carnival Cruise ship. It was such a hardship, I must admit to pack bikinis, tank tops, and flops while the wind blustered around our Portland abode.

It was seven days of sheer bliss! We made port in Key West, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. We pillaged and plundered all! Our biggest decisions were "at what point could we get ice cream--before or after the waterslide?", "one or two entrees for dinner?", "what time should we get pizza?", and "does ice cream count as breakfast?" Obviously a rough life.

Thanks to my parents for a week filled with love, laughter, and great scenery!

Beyond Hogwarts


I read The Alchemist in one day. Do not drop your jaw--I was on airplanes all day back to Portland. However, it says something to keep me immersed for that long! This was a fast read, but had a great story line. I went into the book thinking this may be tied to Harry Potter, but alas, not to be. However I learned that a real Nicholas Flamel really existed and this book is based (loosely) on events from his life. I am looking forward to book two.

All begins with I


Ironically, her locations start with I and the story is about the journey to find herself. The author spends a year immersing herself in the cultures that would best teach her about food (Italy), love (Indonesia), and balance (India). This was a whimsical read, with some great quotable lines. However, I started to get a bit mixed up in her take on religion. Honestly, since I was so confused trying to read it, I cannot imagine trying to keep it straight in my head.

Nonetheless, it makes me want to roam the world and find those little spots where few tred.