Thirteen Things I Am Going To Do At the Beach

Well Fall break officially starts tomorrow afternoon and we are headed to the beach for a few days. What I love most about the beach is the layed back atmosphere and the lack of pressure to do anything. Some vacations you feel like you have to go, go, go (like Disney World) but at the beach you just are.

1. Eat
2. Read
3. Sit and listen to the surf
4. Ride Go-Karts, a family tradition
5. Sleep late
6. Watch the kids play in the pool
7. Sit on the beach and read
8. Help the kids build sandcastles
9. Watch movies and stay up too late
10. Play games
11. Eat
12. Sit outside on the balcony and read
13. Spend time with the family

September

I'm so glad that it is September. It's hard to believe now how hot it was just a month ago (and how much I was complaining about it.) Before you know it it will be October, my absolute favorite month of the year. Before you know it the weather will be cool enough for sweaters. I know I've done a favorite things about fall before so I really didn't want to bore you with it again. But what else can I blog about?

13 Things I love about Fall

1. Fall color. The maples and oaks and redbuds turning their gorgeous colors of gold, brown & orange before falling to the ground and creating piles of leaves for the children to play in.

2. Boiled Peanuts bought from a roadside stand. I wish I knew where I could get some. I may have to settle for my own. If you're unfamiliar with this delicacy check out my mom's post on the subject.

3. Candy Corn. It may be mostly corn syrup but I love it! It is good that it is only available in the fall (or the good kind, anyway) because I definitely eat too much. The absolute best, of course is Brach's.

4. Cool morning & evening breezes. My morning walks are so much more pleasant now. And in the evenings you can sit outside while the children play and just soak it in.

5. My hot tub. Oh, yes. After months of disuse because it was just too darn hot, I'm looking forward to evenings soaking in bubbled bliss.

6. Fall Fashion. Oh how I love my sweaters and sweatshirts and jackets and boots and jeans.

7. College Football. I love to go to games although in I've only been to 4 in the last 12 years. The atmosphere and excitement is hard to explain to the uninitiated. Playing in the band at Auburn was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life and I miss it. I even love watching the games on T.V. And I love Auburn even if they are not having the best season so far.

8. Halloween. Not just the night of when all the kids come to your door begging for trips. But the whole Halloween experience. School carnivals and carved pumpkins, yard displays of mums and scarecrows,. I love to decorate the house with pumpkins and fall decorations and candles. I have these really cute pumpkin baskets and Halloween beanie babies.

9. Fall Break. This is only the fourth year of fall break for us. I wish we had this when I was younger. It is nice to have that week to look forward to.

10. October at the Beach. Fewer crowds on the beach and in the restaurants. The water is still warm but the sun is not scorching. The kids spend long hours playing in the sand and I spend long hours lounging and reading. (Hubby spends long hours inside the condo on the computer). We race go karts, play miniature golf, and play games at night (since we can't take our Tivo with us.)

11. Christmas shopping. Although I start this process in August I try to be finished by October (except for the unexpected). I like to have my presents wrapped before others start thinking about who's on their list. Of course, I miss the bargains, but I also miss the crowds and the last minute stress.

12. Harvest Festivals, Street Fairs, Pumpkin Patches. We have a wonderful pumpkin patch here complete with hay rides and activities for the children. In October we have the Madison Street Festival complete with a parade. Our school is having a harvest festival in late October.

13. Chili. Now, I confess that I have eaten this during the warm months but usually refrain from cooking it. I like my chili full of beans (unlike the Texas versions) served over corn chips and topped with cheddar cheese. It is a great meal to eat while watching a football game (or even a F1 race).

Thursday Thirteen

Rather than talk about the weather (again!). I thought I would fantasize about vacationing.

Thirteen Places I would like to visit (US edition)

1. New York City - Broadway, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building

2. Charleston, SC - old South

3. San Francisco, Ca - I've been there on a one day visit but would like to see more

4. Grand Canyon

5. Yellowstone National Park

6. Seattle, WA

7. Philadelphia, PA

8. Alaska

9. Hawaii

10. Boston, Ma

11. Kansas City

12. San Diego, CA

13. Key West

Thursday Thirteen

I'm sorry if you've come to my blog hoping to read about something other than the weather. It's just all there is right now. We have a 30% chance of rain this weekend and so the humidity will be between 60 & 100%. By Monday the highs are supposed to drop back into the mid-90's. And it is not that I am wishing for the destructive forces of a hurricane. But a non-destructive tropical storm to bring a good rain would be good. I don't even remember when it last rained. My apologies to Texas who apparently will be getting rain from the Tropical Storms hanging out in the Gulf. They don't seem to need anymore. Can't you send us some?

Back in the summer of 1991 I was living in a four bedroom apartment with one other girl. In order to afford the utilities (the other two girls had gone home for the summer) we had to leave the thermostat on 80. I knew then that I was going to college so that someday I would not have live without air conditioning.

So instead of a regular Thursday Thirteen I am doing a Thankful Thursday.

13. I'm thankful for Air-Conditioning.
12. I'm thankful to Benjamin Franklin for discovering electricity
11. I'm thankful to Willis Haviland Carrier who (according to Wikipedia) first discovered and used electric air-conditioning in 1902
10. I'm thankful for all the advances in air-conditioning technology between 1902 and the present and for Bryant for making my particular unit.
9. I'm thankful for the trees behind my house for helping keep my house cool.
8. I'm thankful for the men & women who have given their lives for the freedom I take for granted sitting in my air-conditioned house.
7. I'm thankful for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) who keeps our utility bills some of the lowest in the country and Huntsville Utilities for providing my electricity (although certainly not for free!)
6. I'm thankful to my high school chemistry teacher who first suggested pharmacy as a career
5. I'm thankful for my parents who taught me to work hard for what I wanted and for helping finance my education.
4. I'm thankful to Auburn University for my degree in Pharmacy (and for my wonderful years there.)
3. I'm thankful for my two employers for paying me so well so that I can afford air-conditioning (and keeping the building cool while I am working.)
2. I'm thankful to my hubby and children for putting up with my crazy hours.
1. I'm thankful to God, for all the blessings in my life, including air-conditioning.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I do not like about August

1. It is hot.

2. When you get up in the morning it is hot.

3. When you go to bed at night it is hot.

4. Your car gets hot enough sitting in the sun to cook food.

5. If you have to do any shopping it is hot.

6. If you exercise later than 5am it is hot.

7. It is humid, so you can need a bath just from walking out to your car.

8. There are no holidays in August.

9. It is hot.

10. August has 31 hot days.

11. Fall fashions are out but who wants to buy them in 90' weather.

12. It is too hot to use my hot tub.

13. It's too hot.

Thursday Thirteen

School Starts today and I so want that to mean that it is Fall. School starting used to mean the beginning of football season, the change of leaves, and the first cool breezes of Autumn. In reality the first football game is still a month away (September 1 if you're an Auburn fan), cool breezes will probably not be felt for 6 weeks, and the first leaves change here after October 1. Fall is my favorite time of year and I look forward to it (longingly) all summer.



Thirteen Things I'm Looking Forward to this Fall

1. Football

2. A relief from this heat

3. Shorter days

4. Candy Corn

5. Boiled Peanuts

6. Beach trip during Fall Break

7. Yard displays

8. Halloween

9. Fall fashions - wearing jeans, long-sleeve shirts, and boots

10. Family reunion

11. Leaves changing color

12. My daughter's birthday (October 10)

13. Deeper Still

Thirteen Things to Do in Huntsville and surrounding Area

1. Visit the US Space and Rocket Center complete with a full-size Saturn V replica and Harry Potter on IMAX.

2. Visit Early Works Children's History Museum with among other things, a talking tree.

3. Visit the Huntsville Botanical Gardens - there is always something going on there.

4. Visit Sci-Quest Hands on Science Museum. I haven't visited this one, but the kids seem to enjoy it.

5. Harmony Animal Reserve. I haven't seen this one either but there are supposed to be many exotic animals. The closest Huntsville comes to having an actual zoo.

6. Take in a Huntsville Stars (minor league) baseball game.

7. Ice skating

8. Point Mallard Water Park

9. Cathedral Caverns

10. Burritt on the Mountain - a living, history museum

11. Southern Adventures - family amusement park

12. Enjoy one of our many parks and kids play areas such as Kids Space & Kids Kingdom

13. Enjoy a bike ride on one of our many greenways.

I only chose kid friendly activities. This would make an interesting meme. I challenge anyone reading this to list activities in your city (or the surrounding area).

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I miss in the summer
(or Thirteen things I love about winter)

1. Big comfy Sweatshirts
2. Hot drinks on cold afternoons
3. Relaxing in my hot tub
4. Chili (although I have been known to eat it year round)
5. Boots
6. Snuggling under multiple quilts
7. Short days (ie the sun coming up at a decent hour and having the decency to "set already"
8. Blue jeans
9. Pecan Pie
10. Cute sweaters
11. Snow (yeah, like it ever snows here. But it could.)
12. New episodes of favorite shows
13. Woodburning fireplaces or heaters

Edit: Friday afternoon I was able to experience a little winter at the skating rink, complete with a gas fireplace. If only I had a warm drink.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things To Do With My Kids This Summer

1. Pottery By U - done

2. Bowling - Mom took them

3. Vacation Bible School - done

4. Point Mallard Water Park - done

5. Jump Zone - done

6. Picnic in the Park - too hot

7. See Aunt Terry run her first 5mile race - done

8. Go out with cousins on the river - done

9. Free Movie

10. Go out to lunch with my Grandmother Esther - done

11. Go to Atlanta and visit Aunt Terry and do #12 & #13 - done

12. Visit Whitewater - rained out

13. Visit The Georgia Aquarium - done

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Plants that Grow Well in The South (Zone 7) 1. Begonias 2. Impatiens 3. New Guinea Impatiens 4. Celosia 5. Coleus 6. Hostas (perennial) 7. Marigolds 8. Mums 9. Vinca 10. Purple Secretia 11. Lilly 12. Pansies (fall planting) 13. salvia I have planted all these in my garden with great success. The secret (I believe) to beautiful flowers is water, fertilizer, and pest control.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Ways To Honor Your Mother (or Wife) on Mother's Day
1. A lovingly selected, addressed and mailed greeting card (hint for my brother)
2. A Phone Call (another hint for my brother)
3. A beautifully made craft (you know, if you are 5)
4. Breakfast in Bed (Cereal will do just fine)
5. Brunch at Cracker Barrel
6. Lunch at The Outback
7. Flowers
8. A Corsage to wear to church
9. Dinner at a Ol' Heidelberg (wife)
10. A few hours of quiet solitude provided by entertaining the children (wife)
11. Her very own TiVo remote (wife)
12. A hug (whether you're 5 or 50 this still works)
13. Just say "I love You"

Thursday Thirteen

As a twist on the Thursday Thirteen I decided to participate in Thankful Thursday. My Mother over at Bears in Exile has been doing this for some weeks.

I am thankful for:

1) The wonderful treatment I received at the doctor's office yesterday

2) Feeling Better today

3) B sitting in the bed with me last night reading One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

4) Hubby taking the time away from work to take me to the doctor

5) J actually answering with "Yes, Ma'am" yesterday

6) Schwann's man delivering unexpectedly Tuesday night

7) White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies from 6)

8) 301 Useless Facts that my husband is using to entertain us

9) My job where I actually had the option of calling in sick

10) Much needed Rain

11) Hot showers when you feel bad

12) The Hallmark Channel

13) Having another 3 day weekend.

Thursday Thirteen

I wanted to do a Thursday Thirteen but couldn't think of an idea. I read all my favorite blogs and no one has posted one yet. So I'm gonna wing it. My hubby is going camping this weekend and perhaps because of poor planning my kids are spending Friday night at Grandma's. So I have all day Friday and Saturday to myself. I have had some time coming up with what to do, so here are some ideas.

13 Things To Do on My 3 Day Weekend

1. Watch a movie - Memoirs of a Geisha - done. It wasn't as good as the book.
2. Prepare my SS lesson - done.
3. Go visit Joy who just had a baby girl -done.
4. Get a haircut - done.
5. Go to my cousin Shane's wedding reception - done.
6. Eat - done.
7. Play StarWars II while kids are gone to Grandmas - done, done.
8. Exercise - done.
9. Nap - done.
10. Take kids out to brunch on Sunday - done, Cracker Barrell, very good.
11. Enjoy my clean house while kids are gone - done. House stayed clean until Sunday.
12. Do laundry (you just can't escape it!) done. Finished it all on Friday.
13. Eat some more - done.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen random thoughts:
1. I am not having the best day.
2. Yesterday, I blew off my diet and went a little crazy. I drank a strawberry cream slushie, I ate a Reese's peanut butter egg, I ate french fries. It was all worth it.
3. Despite blowing off my diet yesterday, I am back on it today.
4. On Tuesday my daughter learned to ride her bike just like that. I took pictures. She smiled alot!
5. J's teacher called me from school a little while ago to tell me J had fallen and warped his glasses. Again. The spare pare he broke last Monday. Now I am going to have to go to WM after work and see if they can be fixed because he is taking SAT's this week.
6. It is amazing how quickly everything is blooming and turning green. Last week there were no leaves on our Japanese maple and this week you can no longer see the plastic eggs hanging there.
7. My neice's birthday is Sunday and my mother just reminded me this morning and I was lucky enough to have some greeting cards at work and my checkbook. I quickly dashed off a card and check to her.
8. Yesterday I drove to Albertville to visit my grandfather who is not doing well. He is bedridden and on Hospice. He called me by name.
9. I payed the bills this morning. We are still in the black.
10. Next week, my mother is coming for a visit.
11. Pilates is going well. I am almost ready to try the advanced workout. Almost.
12. Tomorrow I am going to clean off my porch, wash my car, and buy a sofa.
13. I am off the next three days!

Thirteen Things to Pass The Time (at Work)

1. Read magazines: I have Good Housekeeping, Newsweek, Everyday with Rachel Ray, Working Mother, Family Fun, and Cooking Light

2. Play Mah Jong

3. Read a good book: Currently I am reading The Dirty Duck by Martha Grimes

4. Read blogs on the internet

5. Update my own blog

6. Shop: Amazon.com, Orientaltrading.com, walmart.com

7. Talk to friends: I talk to my friend Kim who is also at work with very little to do

8. Chat with coworkers. Actually, my coworkers have a lot of work and occasionally get annoyed when I stand around on their side of the building chatting.

9. Think about food, make grocery lists, look at recipes

10. Watch the clock. How many hours until lunch time?

11. Do a little work

12. Play Mah Jong

13. Eat

Thirteen Things I Like About March

1. It is not February (or January)

2. Bradford Pears bloom (though only for about a week)

3. St. Patrick's Day - we all pretend we are a little Irish and it's the only holiday in March. Although, next year Easter will be in March again.

4. Spring Break - even though I still have to work and we hardly ever go anywhere. I think it holds over from childhood.

5. Green everywhere - trees, grass, shamrock's

6. Flowers blooming - daffodils, tulips,

7. Winter is officially over March 20th.

8. Spending spree (Although our tax refund comes mid-Feb with online filing and direct deposit, March is when we traditionally buy the big ticket items.)

9. Daylight Savings Time begins - What? This is supposed to be in April.

10. Okay so there are not 13 things I love about March. Can anyone help me out here?