Long Time No Post

I didn't really mean to quit posting. But, it has been several weeks nonetheless. When I went back to working full-time at Wal-Mart the appeal of spending time on the computer was lost. When I am home I don't even want to check my email, much less spend hours browsing other peoples blogs and finding witty things to post. Call it laziness if it makes you feel better.

I have been really happy back at WM, though, and am confident I've made the right decision.

We've been very busy. I got the house decorated for Christmas. This weekend we went to Auburn for my cousin's wedding and just got back this afternoon. It was a beautiful wedding. Rick and I enjoyed taking a walking tour with our kids of the University Campus (where we both attended) last evening. A lot has changed since we graduated.

Christmas is approaching fast. I have all my presents wrapped except for whatever last minute things come up. I really need to finish my Christmas cards and get them in the mail. I have my deer and Palm Trees up in the front yard.

We have finished the second season of Lost and are anxiously waiting the 3rd season release on Tuesday. To say we are hooked would be an understatement. I don't know what we will do when we have to start watching it only once a week with the fourth season in January.

There is so much going on that sometimes everything is just a blur. We have Christmas parties and family gatherings coming up. The kids and I have an annual tradition of decorating a Gingerbread house. I have Dr appts for both children next week. I have to work next weekend and then my parents will be here over the holiday. Hopefully, we are taking a little trip after New Year's to recover from the rush.

I hope everyone will continue to stop by once in a while. I'll try to post at least once a week until Christmas.

Cool Weather

Well, I had to turn the heat on today. I really do not like to turn the heat on and then turn the air back on a few days later. That is a common situation here in the South. The temp in the house got below 60 last night, so I relented. Last year we had to turn the air back on briefly in December.

I finally got outside and planted some bulbs and pansies. A good thing, too, since we had a hard frost last night. My beautiful impatiens had finally had enough and died. I planted tulips and daffodils and hyacinths. Every year the ground gets a little easier to work so the bulb planting went quickly. My daughter was a big help, dropping the bulbs into the holes I dug and covering them with dirt.

We have some gorgeous fall color and if my camera was working I would take a picture and show you. Our camera never worked after our vacation. I've still got to get the pictures off the memory card. Hubby is looking at getting another one. He has been wanting a SLR camera but I didn't want to spend the money. Now I guess it is necessary. I think I might buy myself a small camera to carry in my purse.

We had a great time at the Auburn game last weekend and I know I should do an entire post about it but I have been so busy. I am enjoying the new job but between it and school activities it leaves little time for the non-essentials like blogging and reading blogs. I still find time to read, somehow, though.

I'm working all weekend and I just wanted to do a quick post because I'm not sure when I'll be back. If I didn't get a chance to visit your blog this week, I'm sorry and hope to visit soon.

Friday

I have been so busy lately. I've backed myself in a little corner. But next week I have two days set aside to spend with my mother. We're going to shop and eat out and enjoy ourselves. I am enjoying my new (old) job. I really like the schedule. Of course, in the evenings I am very tired, but the days go by so fast. I'm really enjoying the people I'm working with, too. My old boss has called me about 3 times to ask when I am coming back. It is nice to be in a career with so much demand.

Tomorrow is the annual Auburn University Alumni Band Reunion. My daughter and I are headed down this afternoon. I'll practice with the alumni band tomorrow morning and then we'll perform with the college band during the halftime of the football game and in the stands. Playing with the Auburn band was the most enjoyable experience I had in college and every year when fall rolls around I miss that excitement. It is nice to spend this little Saturday afternoon going back. My SIL is going to meet us in Auburn and sit with B during the game. Looks like we're going to have great weather (not as hot as usual). We're going to a barbecue at the pharmacy school for lunch.

Maybe next week I can check on how everyone is doing with NaBloPoMo. Have a great weekend.

Monday

What a glorious Sunday we had. I stayed up too late Saturday night. I was too keyed up from the excitement of watching Auburn beat Floriday to sleep. War Eagle!! So Sunday morning we slept late. I went out for my morning walk with the kids riding their bikes. It was a great day weather-wise, one of those blue-sky, cool days we so longed for during the heat of August. I put out my yard display (first in the cul-de-sac, thank you). I took a much needed nap and took the kids out for ice cream. I enjoyed my hot tub for a while. I fixed a big pot of chili for supper and we watched the Japanese Grand Prix. My back is hurting again this morning and I wish I knew what I had done to it. But otherwise, I'm having a good morning and looking forward to this weekend (more later.)

Weekend

Mother and I are here in Nashville enjoying our girls weekend. The conference was wonderful in some ways and very frustrating in others. I don't think I will attend another event of this size with general admission. Waiting to enter with 5-6 thousand other ladies was most unpleasant. This morning we ended up sitting in the upper most level of the arena. Tonite we are just relaxing. We had some Italian food delivered and we're watching the Auburn game.

War Eagle

War Eagle!!!

I refrained from blogging about the Iron Bowl because I am a bit superstitious. Those people who do not live here and especially did not grow up here have no idea what that game means. Wikipedia has an article that doesn't quite do it justice. As with previous years it is not necessary to goad those Bama fans in my vicinity. I need only to enjoy my relief of surviving for another year.

Football at Work

I just saw on the web that the Auburn vs. Alabama football game will be played at 2:30pm. I was really hoping for a late game because I have to work that day. For the last 12 years the game has been played on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and I have had my choice of working the Saturday before and not watching the game or missing out on family gatherings after Thanksgiving. Most years I have chosen (or it has been chosen for me) to work. (See, I do have my priorities straight.) Most years I have been lucky and the game was at night. That is not to be the case this year.

Until last year I was able to listen to Saturdays games while at work on the radio. I even listen to them on the radio while watching the broadcast games on T.V. I enjoy the Auburn announcers. Starting last year there was no FM station in our area carrying the games.(I know, it is hard to believe.) For an annual fee you can listen over the internet and that is what I chose to do. However, my previous job at WM did not allow for internet use and I was not able to listen to those games while I was at work.

Well, let me remind you that I am a serious Dye-hard Auburn fan. I could not work idly by and not know what was going on during the biggest game of the season. So my grandfather loaned me his portable television. (Not a modern version, either) . Now this sounds good until you remember that there is no Cable Television at WM, either. So with some coat hangers, aluminum foil and wire I was able to rig up an antennae and actually kept up with the score (although the picture was very poor). I would have enjoyed Auburn's win more if not for those pesky customers.

(This reminds me of 1990 when I had to listen at work and listen to the Alabmama announcers and my team lost.)

So this year like several other games this year I will be listening on the internet. We do have a television in the lobby here but no cable so I'm not sure that will be any help. My husband has often suggested I Tivo the game and watch it later. This is the way we watch most of the F1 races (most are broadcast really early). However, I would not enjoy it as much if I knew the score and I cannot handle not knowing the score when it is over. I might Tivo this one anyway just to watch the highlights.

Just a side note: I read somewhere that the game might be moved starting next year back to Thanksgiving weekend. I think this is super for two reasons: 1) I don't have to choose between family and the game and 2)it would leave two weeks between the Georgia and Alabama games. However, I might have to choose between watching the game with my Alabama fan in-laws or safe at home.

Alma Mater

While riding in the car with my mother and two children recently I was trying to teach the kids the words to our favorite college team's fight song. You may know it as the War Eagle fight song. And if you were in the Auburn band you know it also as #3. My dad graduated from Auburn also and I grew up singing the fight song. I have edited (as my parents did) the word hell to become yell for the kids to sing.

Auburn has a few other traditional songs that are sung and played at sporting events. Among these are Tiger Rag, Glory (to ole Auburn), and of course the Alma Mater. When I was in the band at Auburn we both played and sang the Alma Mater and I tried to impress them with my memory.

Then my mother did an amazing thing. She sang her high school alma mater from memory. Now, I must say that I graduated from the same high school my mother did and I could not remember a word, I couldn't even sing along. Is it that the college song replaced the high school one in my memory or that my mother has a better memory?

This reminds me that a few years ago my father ran into an old college roomate at church who he had not seen in over 30 years. The amazing thing is that they recognized each other. I am not sure I could tell you some of my old roomates names much less recognize them with 30 years of aging. Wow! They both have amazing memories (although I am not sure my mother would agree about my dad's. Ha!)

This of course has ventured far off the subject. For your learning pleasure here is the Auburn Fight Song.

War Eagle, fly down the field
Ever to conquer, never to yield
War Eagle, fearless and true,
Fight on you orange and blue
Go! Go! Go!
On to vict'ry, strike up the band
Give 'em hell, Give 'em hell
Stand up and yell, Hey!
War Eagle, win for Auburn,
Power of Dixie Land!

War Eagle!!

Auburn is playing against South Carolina tonight. That is right, on Thursday. I do not understand the logic behind a Thursday night game and would be surprised if it was for any other reason than money. I am going to try and get home before kick-off but I doubt the people here will cooperate. They rarely do. I set the TiVo at my husband's suggestion, however. I can get home and rewind and watch from the beginning and the catch up during the commercials. Of course, I usually listen to the game (while watching) on the internet radio becuause I much prefer Auburn's Radion Network announcers to ESPN or whoever. It is much more enjoyable to watch a game when the announcers are on the same side you are. Especially, if you happen to be the only person in your house who even cares. When I get home my husband will be asking me, "what football game?" and undoubtedly the T.V. will be tuned to evening Nick Toons. It's ironic that he doesn't care for football. But I never say, "What race?" Of course, in his defense, he doesn't jump up and down and yell at the referees during the formula one races.

Football

Football season is in full swing. I am a serious college football fan. Or rather a serious Auburn Tiger football fan. My husband however, is not. He and I graduated from the same college but he practices passive indifference to the scores, stats & polls. He will occasionally watch a game with me if he is in the room but that is the extent of it.

Football in the Deep South is serious business. I grew up with one of the fierces rivalries known in NCAA football. My father graduated from Auburn, also and raised my brother and I with a fierce loyalty. We were children in the 1970's when Auburn's cross-state rival was the powerhouse and being an Auburn fan was out of vogue. Being ridiculed as a child for supporting something I didn't then understand made a lasting impression. I detest people who waver their support for whoever is winning. There have been some tough years to be an Auburn Tiger (probation, losing seasons) and I have stayed with them through it all. I will always remain loyal.

That being said it is still glorious to see (or hear) them win. Warrrr Eagle!!!!