Tabs

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Octoberness

Happy Fall Y'all.

And by that I mean HAPPY.  As in, see ya September.  You had me in lock down but I'm bustin' out with a spiced cider in hand.  And a new pumpkin orange Eddie Bauer sweater.  That's enough October armor for a brand new month, and a reclaiming of myself.

September highlights:

North Carolina Mountain State Fair


I love it.  It brings back memories of my childhood.  I can remember going to the Fair as a kid with my older cousin and riding The Zipper.  Thank you Mr. Commentator for the engineering analysis of this killer ride.  All I know is it was crazy, and good.  And as a punk kid four years younger than my worshiped cousin, I could hang on any ride with her and all her teenage friends.  Those cage spinning skills Mr. Commentator talks about?  I had them.  Me in all of my 80 pounds of coolness could throw my weight around in there like nobody's business.  Cage spinners.  Zipper queens.

I grabbed a cup o' joe and joined the white hairs in line at the gate, and the hippie crew still setting up first thing opening morning.  The weather delivered, the bright colors matched my memories, and the smells?  Tried and true.  I entered some of my pictures again this year for fun.  No expectations.  Just for the hell of it to keep my photography mind moving.  
And would you look what happened.








National Quartet Convention

"NQC", to those who aren't too cool to admit they are 42 years old and love it.  I crawled out of my September bed and rolled solo to Louisville, Kentucky knowing I wouldn't be disappointed.  The Expo Center there is called "Freedom Hall".  Crimeny if walking up that long sidewalk toward my NQC weekend and seeing that on the side of the building doesn't get me every time.  It may as well be a runway really.  With flashing lights and a loud megaphone hailing loudly, Hey Mamma in the blue jeans looking a little COOKED.  We got you.  Come on in.  Take a mental load off .  It's FREEDOM HALL, and boy do we have a healthy dose of Jesus for you."  I always leave renewed.  With new focus and new hope.

The cherry on top came with a little old lady out front, scared to death she would be busted for trying to sell her ticket.  God love her.  I saw it in her eyes.

"Are you selling tickets?"

....yes

"Can I ask what section they are in?"

.....I'm real nervous because I think they are watching

"Oh, right.  Ok, let's just sit over here under the tree and talk."

*smile*.....

"So.  This is better.  What tickets are you trying to sell."

....I have three tickets for the next three nights.  Well, ....fidget....I mean one seat for three nights.  ....Fidget, fidget, fidget.....Unfortunately I have to fly home.  They're on the second row.

(Holy Moses....this cannot be happening)  

*SMILE*  "I'll take them."

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That my friends, is close enough to Jesus to almost touch him.  Holy Spirit ooze.  I was covered in it.






I won't bore you with too many random favorites that you don't know.  But I would be cheating you if I didn't include HER....  She is everything I would represent in Gospel Music.  
You go girl.  Square peg on a round stage, and I LOVED her.




Freedom Hall.  Second Row.

It was amazing in every single way possible.  My weekend seat mate, Betty Jo, hugged me good bye and said, "If I don't see you next year, see you in Glory."  



Nashville, Tenessee.  And Family

Long weekend away with the hubster.  Sans children.

Whaaaaat?

I know.  What on earth could I possibly have done to deserve all this craziness.  It was a continuing education weekend for the Mr.  And a keep the hubby company in the off hours weekend for the Mrs.  With a little side of Gaylord Opryland Hotel.  

Enough said.


No, I didn't carry my tripod with me.  Let's not talk about it.




It's Vegas meets the South.  MASSIVE.  And gardens.  Gardens everywhere.  Wellhellhell.....we all know that's my IV of happiness.  











To top the weekend, was family.  My Grandma.  Love this woman.  She's frail, and battling cancer.  Well, actually she's not battling it.  She's just living it for whatever amount of time God gives her.   So every single time I see her my mind whispers~  memorize her    love her    soak her in    soak her in because this might be the last time    
TELL HER HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HER. 



Tell me she's not beautiful.  My Aunt and I tried to get her to have her very first pedi with us over the weekend.  She would have NONE of that.  People would see her feet.  And her toes.  And her nails.

Right.  No pedi.  
That's ok Grandma.  I'm channeling all kinds of mani pedi for the both of us.  





And then there was this little booger.  Miracle baby 2011. 


 Hello little miracle.  So adorable and delicious I could hardly stand it.  I prayed and prayed for her before she was born, and had yet to hold her.  



I held her, smelled her, and smooched on her till I thought my heart would pop.  She's everything I prayed for in a busy little wiggle package.  I told her she was awesome, and precious, and beautiful.  And then we shopped Hobby Lobby, touching everything that sparkled and caught our eye.  Tell me that's not instant heart connection.



Iphone 5


  Will someone paaaalease give me an award for patience.  I hung in strong for her arrival and now she's mine.  And she was worth it.  I'll admit, saying farewell to my 3Gs and all her elderly glory was a moment.  Like betraying a friend or something.  Phone friendship.  But the nice little Verizon lady told me she would be donated to a women's shelter to someone that needed her.  Or at least that's the move she used to get me to get over myself in pathetic loyalty, and move on with the account proceedings.  I quickly reminded my self the "G" stood for GRANNY.  For real.

I'm over it.  And I  L  O  V  E my upgrade.  Good bye covered wagon.  Hello train of tomorrow.

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Happy Fall.  Don a sweater and bake an apple somethin' somethin' to share with your family.  And cheers to those who made it out of the bed with me.  
If you're still there, it's ok.  Open a Fall window and snuggle in.  I'm here when you're ready with red hots and cider.



1 comment:

  1. Oh friend...how I love every bit of you! I can totally hear your voice (even the new southern accent) all the way from my computer in Kansas. I LOVE your pictures and am super excited to hear more about your state fair awards...that you FAILED TO MENTION...hmm, hmm. We are desperately overdue for a camera outing - my Nikon misses your Nikon in a serious way! Hugs to the family. Until our next adventure...love you! ~K

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