Iron Bowl Frenzy

While I was busy shopping, Cody and Kevin went to their first Iron Bowl. They were excited when they left (and pretty proud of Auburn's efforts when they got home) and Cody wanted to share it with y'all. Here are his thoughts:

Tiger Walk was great. Except for the man with his blue & orange wig and his shaker.

He would not stop jumping in front of the camera. He was from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and he was haaaaaappppppy to be there. So happy, in fact that he he could not control his shaker:

It is not nice to hit the coach in the face.

Kevin interjects this piece of advice: If you are in the unfortunate situation of being wheelchair bound, do not wait until two minutes before the team is walking by to try to make your way through the crowd to get to the rail where you can see. It ain't happening.

Fat Willie's make a mean hot dog. You can enjoy it while waiting for the game to start if you hide it in your coat pocket on the way through the gate. The bored large black female gate guards didn't even think of patting us down.

Kevin interjects again: If she'd have patted me down, I'd have just told her it was my Fat Willie.

It was fun, even if we didn't hold out to win. And even if there were Alabama fans around me. War Eagle!

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 4

After the a*@ whooping we put on Alabama (hey, Saban said it, not me) -- even though it didn't work out for us -- guess what? We went shopping again!

Another trip to Belk, a second stop at Bath & Body Works (hey, we were in Prattville the first time), shopping at Hallmark and Aeropostle...Madalyn and I were ready to call it a day. Besides, there wasn't much left in the piggy bank.

Only 364 days to go...

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 3

Dropped of shopping partner #1 and picked up shopping parnter #2. Madalyn was pretty excited by all the hoopla at first (yes, the excitement did wane). We shopped at Walmart, Bath & Body Works, Best Buy, Belk, & Movie Stop -- all by 11:30 AM.

After the traditional Olive Garden lunch, we headed home for the big game. Madalyn was glad. Her feet hurt.

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 2

Just in case you were wondering, there is nothing like getting up at 2:00 AM and being on the road within 30 minutes to head for the first shopping destination of the day. Well, actually we rode through the mall parking lot to see if we stood a chance for the goodies there (we did) and then we headed for our first destination - Target. What a way to start the day. After he dropped me off to stand in line until they opened at 5:00 AM, Kevin went back to Belk's to get the gift cards they handed out. I am so proud of him 'cause he got two. He's so sly! Then he drove around to Penney's to get the free ornament (all about that free stuff) and coupon. Then he drove to back to Target to stand in line with me -- he couldn't actually stand with me because the police officer on duty wasn't letting folks cut in line, so he had to stand at the back of the line. But at least we got two of those lovely reusable shopping bags they handed out. This was my must get item of the day. All else was just fluff.

So what was I doing, you ask, while my husband was trekking all through the city for me? Standing in line at Target talking to the nicest guy. We chatted about football (he's a USC fan), the military (he's in the Air Force), kids, Charleston, Christmas decorations, Alabama fans, Somalia, the give and take in a marriage, the media, what our troops overseas really think about being there, his tours in Iraq, how cold it is at 2:00 AM in Ohio, family traditions, the man crush going on between Tebow and Urban Meyer and many other off the wall things. So, to my line buddy I say: thanks for helping the two hours pass rather quickly, name your new baby after me (his wife is pregnant), I hope you got the Magna Doodle you were in line for, and I really apologize for thinking you were a thug at first.

What did I really need from Target? Nothing but the free shopping bag. Seriously -- that was all I was there for. But I was so overcome with adrenaline when they opened the door that I just followed the crowds to the electronics. Everyone was grabbing televisions and XBoxes. I just had to get in on the action and so I asked the guy to hand me some things from behind the counter. Then I just went through the store and handed them to people who were farther on back in the line trying to get them. Wasn't that precious?

The rest of our morning was spent at Pier 1, World Market (got some free ornaments) and Old Navy (what a war zone!).

I had to take my shopping partner home at 8:30 so he could go to the big game. But that didn't stop me.

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 1

This is my most favoritest (okay teachers in the family, I know it ain't a real word but I am super excited about today and I tend to forget my learnin' when I'm like that) day of the year to go shopping. I love it more than tax day even.

By the time you read this I will be at store number three or four most likely. I'm lucky my husband goes with me. He is my place in line holder, my elbow the way through the crowds to get to the right rack/shelf guy, my run down to the first open fast food place you can find and bring back a cuppa joe man. What would I do without him? And since he's with me we get double the goodies they hand out!

I can't say exactly what I'm shopping for and spoil all the Christmas surprises, but it really doesn't even matter. If I had nothing to shop for I would still go shopping on this day. I'd find stuff to buy. And if I couldn't come up with anything to buy I'd still go stand in line early in the morning just for the heck of it.

To make this possible, I need little rest and lots of coffee (it used to be Coke but since I gave up carbonated beverages 8 months ago -- what was I thinking -- I had to switch). I like most any coffee. Last year, on a business trip to Baltimore, I got to stay on the club level and those rooms had Starbucks coffee. The Sumatra blend was very strong, but it was just what I needed to get through the week on little sleep. Most of the time my coffee is much less bold. My favorites are Christopher Bean's Jamaica Me Crazy and New England Coffee's Blueberry Cobbler.

Oh my, enough about coffee. There is shopping to do.

Why I Love My Neighborhood

I usually post a flag of the month, but this month there is none. One, because I don't have a flag for November and two, there is no way a cloth flapping in the breeze, no matter how lovely it might be, can compete with this:

We bought our house where we did partly because of the mature trees on most of the lots. Come fall, I'm sure glad we did.

Thanksgiving Traditions

As far back as we can remember (well, at least the past 11 years or so), we've spent Thanksgiving morning in our jammies eating breakfast and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is so endearing when your oldest still asks if we're going to play Parade Bingo like we have for so many years. (Yes, there's still a little guy somewhere in him...) It's just a fun little game where you look for certain things during the parade and mark your Bingo card when you see them.

I thought I'd share our traditional breakfast casserole (no idea where the recipe came from -- I've had it for yeeaarrs; if it's yours, thanks!) and the Bingo cards. Might just start a new tradition in your family. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo

Our Favorite Breakfast Casserole
2 (8 oz.) packages of diced ham
10 pieces of white sandwich bread, cubed
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups milk
6 large eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Spray 13x9 in. baking dish with nonstick spray. Add bread cubes in an even layer. Top first with cheese and then with ham, distributing each evenly. Whisk remaining ingredients together and pour over bread/ham/cheese mixture. Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight.

When ready to bake, remove from fridge and let set at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degree for 45 minutes or until set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.