Reelfoot Lake

 

We took a ride on Sunday that we had not been on in a while.  We traveled to Reelfoot Lake in route to pick Taylor up at my Mom’s.  I got some really good pictures.  Here they are. 

Land Between The Lakes Part Deux

Here are a couple of pictures that I took.  I really didn’t take too many cause it was hot and I am getting older (for you Tiff) and can’t take the heat.  The weather here now is wonderful and we have spent lots more time outside this week.  Now the Ragweed is killing my allergies.  We are currently looking for a home to put me in just so you know. J

 

 

 

 

Land Between The Lakes

Brandon and I decided to spend Sunday riding.  No big surprise there.  We ride a lot.  I am extremely lucky to have a person in my life that I actually like most of the time.  Yes, most of the time.  He is a man and therefore unlikeable sometimes.  Last week was one of those times.  I didn’t like him for the whole week.  It was ok though, I didn’t like a lot last week.  It was just one of those weeks.  Work can be crazy of late and I am not a fan of it being hectic at work.  (Too many people that I have to interact with thus a greater chance of not liking someone).  Not liking them a lot!   

In other news, Taylor has been invited to be in the Plus One class at school.  I was a bit worried at first when her teacher called and said that the Special Education teacher was sending home a form for me to sign.  She will be in a class for two hours a week where more time is spent learning hands on.  She is very excited about it.  She will also be taking a Chinese class.  I have informed her that she will need to make the most of the time with her teacher because there will be no help from home.  I haven’t a clue about speaking any language other than English and there are days when that is a chore for me.

I have pictures of our ride yesterday but frankly I am currently too lazy to go downstairs to my car to get the camera.  Well that and it is too hot outside.  I hate this weather, I hate this weather.  Did I say that I hated this weather?  I do.  I can’t wait for Fall/Winter and I promise not to complain when it is 10 degrees outside.  Well, I will try not to complain but some days complaining is all I got.

So, back to our ride…I drove because Brandon sucks at it.  Have I ever mentioned that?  I am sure that I have.  He disagrees with me but that is ok.  Everyone else agrees with me and that’s  what is really important.  So we headed to Paris, TN and crossed the bridge.  Not sure where we were then, but I found the road I was looking for.  It is always a good day when you actually find the stuff you were looking for without a map.  Because I can never seem to remember the map or the camera anymore.  We had gotten almost to Humboldt when I remembered the camera.  In my defense, I wouldn’t have to remember the camera if my dear sweet man would leave it the hell alone.  I don’t even know most of the time when he takes it.  So anyway, back to the ride, we really enjoyed it.  For those who like to ride, it is a pretty one.  We saw Bison and I didn’t like them.  They made a noise that sounded very menacing to me.  They were huge.  I got pictures of those too but another day.  We ended up in Kentucky at Patti’s Restaurant.  I heard many times about this place and again without a map, we just drove right up on it.  The stars were definitely aligned in my favor yesterday.  The food was good, the wait wasn’t too long and I loved the gift shops. 

Why is it when you age, your stomach is the first thing to play out.  I used to be able to eat anything, anytime.  It didn’t matter.  Now, not so much.  Patti’s food hurt my stomach.  My stomach still hurts today.  I have heard that as we age, we tend to revert back to our baby days.  Apparently, that means that I should be eating Stage 2 foods again.  Ridiculous! 

I did get a bracelet for my arthritis.  Yes, I know, it sounds like I am falling apart at the ripe old age of 36.  It may sound that way because it is true.  I could get off the couch and be more active but that would entail sweat these days and I don’t like to sweat.  And as luck would have it, my two arthritic hips (due to a car wreck years ago) didn’t hurt me last night.  Now was it the bracelet or in my head.  Really doesn’t matter, I was able to rest with my legs not going to sleep and for $4.99, I would say that is a win…win.

 

Father's Day Weekend

We had a great weekend in East Tennessee.  I took Brandon into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park on Father’s Day and he said it was the best present I could have given him.  I thought it was pretty cool too.  Above is a picture we took at Newfoundland Gap and the other is from Fall Creek Falls.  All in all, we made it to 3 state parks and of course the national park.  We needed the time to reconnect.  I had been off some medication that I should not have been off of and had been a handful for weeks now.  At work and at home.  I feel so much better and lost ten lbs to boot.  How can you beat that?

 

Susan Davis

City of Dyersburg

Utility Billing

(731) 288-7687

fax (731) 286-0264

sdavis@dyersburgtn.gov

 

Photo of the Day

 

Taken in Bell Buckle, TN.  Quite possibly one of the cutest little towns that we have ridden through.

Photo of the Day

I am trying to get back into the habit of taking pictures since I have taken my camera back from Brandon.  Here is one from Natchez Trace State Park during Memorial Day Weekend.

 

 

A Great Weekend Continued...

I email updates now because that is the only way I can update.  I had to delete a picture to get it to post.  Here is that sweet picture of my baby girl and my man. 

 

Susan Davis

City of Dyersburg

Utility Billing

(731) 288-7687

fax (731) 286-0264

sdavis@dyersburgtn.gov

 

FW: A Great Weekend

 

We had the best weekend, well minus all the rain.  I couldn’t ask for a better man, well I could but he would just require more attention than the current one does, and I am strapped for time as it is.  J

 

On Saturday, we took the LONG ride to Rock Island State Park.  The ride could have been shortened by about 2 ½ hours but I refused to spend any time on 40 if I could find another way.  The ride was really cool.  I love to ride back roads in places that I have never been.  Rock Island was really neat and we will be returning there when Taylor gets back from visiting her other family this summer.  The picture of Taylor and Brandon above was taken there.  We also stopped to eat at a little place called Marcy Jo’s.  It was really good.

 

Sunday was reserved for the river bank.  We hauled in chairs, food, coolers and the grill only to have to haul it all back out when the rain only got worse.  I just knew that it would pass relatively quickly but it did not.  After using Taylor as a mule for the day, she slept for about 14 hours that night.  We had to wake her up the next morning.  We never wake before she does.

 

Monday was spent at Natchez Trace State Park.  We had our leftover grilled hotdogs and we just warmed them up and had a picnic.  Of course it rained again but we enjoyed ourselves all the same.  When we got home on Monday night, Brandon and I didn’t feel well.  Both of us spent Tuesday with upset stomachs.  He brought me the prettiest flowers home last night.  I feel really lucky to have him most days.  He spent time this weekend teaching Taylor to swim and she did really well.  We were also really proud of the way she acted at Rock Island.  No complaining, she just got right in there with us and climbed the rocks even when she was scared to death. 

 

I am super excited to go see Sex in the City 2 this weekend with my buddy Sarah.  Taylor will be gone to my sister’s for the weekend.  I plan on getting the housework done this week and spending Saturday and Sunday doing absolutely nothing.  I can’t wait!!

It’s been a while since I blogged last.  We have been really busy and lazy.  Is it possible to be both?  I can attest to the fact that it is in my world anyway.  Taylor is looking forward to school being out and counts down daily.  She is planning a visit to Indiana and Michigan this summer.  Brandon and I plan on spending lots of weekends at the Tennessee River this summer. 

Picture taking has been at a minimum of late because Brandon still has possession of my camera.  Well I guess it is ours but I want possession back.  And soon!!  He called yesterday and was coming home from Covington in the middle of the storms.  He made the comment that he sure wished he had the camera to take a picture of the clouds and how bad they looked.  I paused for a minute and then said “You do have the camera”.  He responded “Oh, yeah”!  I mean really, if you don’t even remember that you have the camera, why have it?  He doesn’t know it yet but I will be taking it back very soon.

Thank god the rain has stopped.  This weekend is supposed to be pretty, hotter than hell, but pretty.  I guess when you live in the south; you can’t have pretty and reasonable weather at the same time.  That would be way too much to ask.

 

 

Pictures

I have not been taking pictures lately.  Not because I have lost the desire.  Brandon hi-jacked the camera.  In the beginning it was supposedly work related but after one month and forgetting the camera the last few times we have been to the river, I decided he didn’t need to take anymore work pictures.  I mean seriously how many different angels can you get on a tractor being cleaned.  So I expect to take pictures this weekend, even in the rain.  I have missed it.

 

 

What a great weekend consists of...

For me a great weekend can hold all kinds of adventures.  But this past weekend, I slept most of it.  Brandon was able to lure me out of the house for a couple of rides to a waterfall or two but for the most part, I slept.  I even slept through the storms and for those who know me well, not something I normally do.  It was a great weekend to say the least.

 

Susan Davis

City of Dyersburg

Utility Billing

(731) 288-7687

fax (731) 286-0264

sdavis@dyersburgtn.gov

 

FW: What a difference a year makes

Yesterday marked one year since Brandon broke his leg.  That day is so vivid in my memory.  We were leaving for a trip to Gatlinburg in two days when he called and told me he had broken his leg.  He sounded calm and I figured he was kidding.  He wasn’t.  Here we are one year later and he is good.  He walks fine and doesn’t seem to have much pain with it.  His leg looks like something chewed on it from the two surgeries and countless incisions but I guess that is a small price to pay.  I remember the doctors talking about how these breaks could take up to a year to heal and how down in the dumps that news made Brandon.  I couldn’t say anything other than it would all be ok eventually.  And now it is.  He has moments when he comments on how bad his leg looks but I remind him of how bad the break was and how hard the recovery was.  He is thankful and so am I. 

He made a special point to sit me down and thank me for taking care of him this morning.  I dropped everything and Taylor and I stayed with him during those first few months.  Was it easy?  NO!!!  He was a horrible patient and very demanding.  Not much different than his usual demeanor.  J  But I did what I felt I was supposed to do.  It was a definite turning point in our relationship. 

We are leaving for the river this weekend to get away from real life.  We are planning a trip to Rock Island State Park Saturday, weather permitting.  Taylor is staying here with my mom.  She has not seen Mom and Norris in about three weeks and they all need a good weekend visit. 

Brandon came to Dyersburg yesterday and took me to lunch.  We had an errand to run at my Mom’s house and took a ride around the river.  It had been several months since we rode down that way.  It was a little sad because we spent so much time in the afternoons riding there last year.  I feel like I moved a million miles away.  Who would have thought I would miss the bottoms, but I do.  The above picture was taken last year on our first riding trip after Brandon’s accident.  We reminisced about that yesterday.  What a difference a year does make!!

 

TGIF!!!

The above is a little diagram of the state parks in Tennessee. We are going to run over to Chickasaw in the morning and hike for a bit. That is if my allergies allow for me to leave the house. They are killing me right now. So if you see someone walking around with a mask on similar to the Sars outbreak masks, that is me. The medication that I have been on for a few weeks has alleviated some of the symptoms so it could be worse.

Taylor is staying the weekend with Gammy and as much as I will miss her, I am tickled. SHHHH don’t tell her. She thinks she is the one enjoying the treat.

Brandon did all the housework this week due to my feeling like crap. I think he may be a keeper. I did vacuum and dust. Apparently he has an aversion to dusting. And vacuuming. It’s like how do you notice the most miniscule of things in every area except dusting. He can clean like no other but dusting, not so much. It’s like he just doesn’t see the dust. I won’t complain though. I managed to only dust and vacuum this week so that’s good.

Taylor won an award at school yesterday and was tickled that Brandon, Gammy and I were on hand. I am so lucky that she is such a great student. She got her report card earlier in the week and it was perfect as usual. Love my girl.

Lately

The above picture is of the waterfall at Petit Jean State Park.

We had a great weekend. Friday was filled with errands and the Hee Haw show in Bogota and Saturday was my lazy day. I didn’t leave the house until late and we went to one of Brandon’s friend’s house. Taylor played Wii against grown people. She beat Jason boxing and is still gloating about it. On Sunday, we went to church and then to Brandon’s parents house for an Easter Egg Hunt. Taylor had a great day and actually got the golden egg while hunting. She said she had never gotten one of those. Silly goose. She was tickled by it for sure.

This week the weather is making it really difficult to stay inside and work. I envy Brandon’s job on days like these. Well at least till he gets home all dirty and sweaty.

We have most everything placed in the house. He spent Friday cleaning out his office and now we have a big trip to the land fill to make. We have been working on it daily and hope to be settled soon. I can’t decide how I want stuff to hang on the walls exactly so I guess I better get on that. J We are both ready to be done.

Badger

Yesterday was bad. Very bad. Mom called around lunch to tell me that Taylor’s dog, Badger had been run over in front of her house. Just the thought of having to tell her that broke my heart. But I did tell her and she was completely torn up over it. So sad. He was a dumb dog that barked in the middle of the night really loudly outside my window, but he was sweet and Taylor loved him to death.

So here is a picture of Badgy (as she called him) when he was just a puppy and first home with us. Farewell sweet puppy.

Jamey Johnson

We had a great time at the concert. We were right up by the stage and he was awesome. If you get the chance to go see him, do! He sang lots of Merle Haggard too so that made me very happy. I have seen Merle twice before and I love him!

After the show, we headed to Little Rock and checked into our room sometime after 3:00am due to Brandon. He doesn't follow instructions very well. Hope he doesn't read my blog. :) We got up the next morning and headed to Petit Jean State Park. The waterfall there was really pretty but due to too much alcohol consumption the night before, we were in no condition to hike to it. We did get pictures from the overlook. Brandon is already planning on going back because he can't see a waterfall and not get close to it.

We left on Sunday and drove home to get Taylor. This week we have been working on organizing the house and that makes me very happy. I'll be glad when everything has a place again. Hopefully with Friday off this week, we will be able to knock alot of it out.

Happy Easter!! We will be attending a church in Three Way this Sunday. I have a high school friend that attends there and Brandon says that it is close to our house. Hope they have a good children's program, that is what we are looking for. We want Taylor to enjoy church and her church friends. So we will see...

Anniversaries

We are off today for our anniversary celebration. Two years ago this coming Monday we met. I had no idea we would end up here. I really didn’t see a future with him at first. He is so special to me now. He makes me laugh and drives me crazy daily.

I will post pictures on Monday. We plan to visit the highest peak in Arkansas, Mount Magazine. Tonight however, we will be checking out the Jamey Johnson show. Let the celebration begin.

How funny life is

Just when you are not looking, life slips you a curve ball. It is the most amazing thing and I know it sounds clique and is often said, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. A few years ago, two to be exact, I was living the single life in fast forward. Do I miss that? Sometimes but not really the going to the bars part, more the hanging out with friends part. The amazing friendships that are formed during the hazy late nights. We are all still friends but just in different places in life. We will always be friends but sometimes I really miss those days. My life now is so unexpected. Well maybe not for most people, but for me, I had given up on spending my life with someone. I had gotten to a place where I was ok with just Taylor and me. Then came Brandon.

Since we have moved in together recently, I have been most impressed with his relationship with Taylor. Taylor has never really had a father figure. She knows her father and adores him but he has and continues to be mostly absent in her life. She waits for Brandon to get home. It is so good to see the excitement in her eyes when he does come home. She starts with 100 questions and he always makes time to talk with her and ask her about her day. This morning I was informed that I needed to pick up some food coloring so the two of them can change the color of a flower that she picked for us. He is always trying to teach her new things and she is so willing to learn. He tries (as he puts it) to teach me things as well but I figure I have learned enough up to this point. J

It is just amazing to me to see the difference in a child when both parental figures are present. Never having had that before, you appreciate it so much more. So this weekend as we celebrate two years together, I will make sure to let him know just how much it means to me that he takes the time to spend with my child.

Around the state in 1.5 days

We went to the river this weekend as planned. We went to the Blooming Arts Festival as planned. What else we did was not planned. We left the festival and drove east until we reached…Chattanooga. I was so tickled and he likes to surprise me. We grabbed a room for the night and he gave me a choice of seeing the Aquarium or another attraction. I would love to see the Aquarium sometime but opted for Ruby Falls. It was great and just as pretty as the pictures that I had seen. I hope the pictures that I have attached show up but they really don’t do it justice.

We will leave on Friday for the Jamey Johnson show and then off to Arkansas for a little anniversary celebration. I am not planning any of it other than seeing one state park so that is a big step for me. I do love to plan things out. I really enjoyed just going this weekend and seeing where we ended up. It was a bit freeing. And I really didn’t get than anxious in the car. Well maybe a few times.

Another River Trip

We will be taking many of these as the warm weather gets here. We hope to spend most of the summer up there. I love it.

We are going to Linden tomorrow to the Blooming Arts Festival. Music, food and crafts too. There will even be demonstrations on different types of arts and crafts. Then we will be eating supper at the Pirates Lair. I am so excited about that. I spotted it on our last trip. Seafood of all kinds.

Pictures to come Monday. Have a great weekend.

River Trip

Brandon and I had a very relaxing weekend at the river. A lot of riding was done and omg a lot of eating as well. Note to self: Do not go to the doctor and start a steroid regimen before going on a trip. I seriously thought I may have eaten myself to death on Saturday. Thank goodness those urges have curbed and my eating is back to normal. Now if I can arrange to have the extra 5 or so pounds gained sucked from my body that would be great.

Speaking of the doctor, she put me on a new anxiety medicine. I am really tiring of being so anxious so often especially in the car. She thought it was really funny that I was ok along as I was driving. Brandon finds that amusing as well. I do feel safer. Is it because I am some rock star driver, no! But I feel better none the less. Let’s hope this medicine works. I have tried them all.

Taylor is well and sassy. The book fair is at school this week and I went by today to get her a few books. How we ended up with a huge ink pen with a number one hand on top is hazy. It just happened before I realized it. You know those foam things people wear on there hands during football games, well we have about a foot long pen with one. Because you know that is what every eight year old needs! She also picked up a diary with two keys. I of course laid claim to one of the keys. No secrets in my house until you at least 12. J

The move is almost over with no casualties. It is a Christmas miracle in March. Our home looks like the yard of the Sanford’s but we are moved. Except for some attic stuff but that will have to wait.

No pictures today cause I suck and am entirely too lazy. Big surprise, huh?

Ok so I shouldn't have thanked Amy so soon...

Or maybe I added entirely too many pictures so let me try one from this weekends much needed ride at the river.

Cohabitation...Part 2

Ok, so even though we have not moved all the stuff from my house, we are officially having to look at each other everyday. Huge accomplishment for me. Huge! Did I say HUGE?!! Taylor has her new bedroom suit and is over the moon about it. I sure wished a piece of furniture made me that happy. So far no one has lost any limbs, so I guess that is good.
Brandon has OBD. Yes, you read that correctly, Overly Bossy Disorder. We have been working on this. He made a reference to pans in the kitchen not being stacked properly the other night and my head spun around at least three times. I informed him that I would throw them in the middle of the kitchen floor and he could stack them properly there. I know, I am such a grown up, huh? Bless his heart, he has worked so hard on his space and these two lunatic women move in and incorrectly stack his pans. Can you believe the nerve? Me either...Anyway, he is learning to deal with other humans in his space and actually seems to almost like it.
I had to inform him that the woman's job was to take care of the house and the humans in the house. It's just the way it is supposed to be. And then I forgot to put his whites in the dryer and he did not have socks this morning. See how lucky he is to have me. I'm a peach.
He informed me that we were going somewhere special this weekend. Then he told me it was to the Farm and Gin Show in Memphis. Now you see just how lucky I am to have him. So I get to spend a Saturday of my life looking at tractors. Do you wish you were me yet? I am only kidding, it will be fun and any opportunity for us to be together as a family is always great.
So the cohabitating has not killed any of us but the moving of things just might. Pray for me.

Kids...

I bet you are wondering what this picture is of. Well even if you aren't, let me fill you in. I have the most considerate, helpful child ever. She loves to help. So I asked her to start my car the other morning when I was running a little behind. She has started setting her alarm clock and now is up every school morning at 5:00 am and ready to go. See so sweet and helpful.

So after she starts the car, she naturally thinks, hmmm, how do I get all this frost off Mom's windshield. Of course the first thing that comes to mind is:"Hey, I'll use a rock". Logical, huh? So she does and this is the result. $160 plus tax later, I will get a new windshield.

I almost had a stroke when I saw it. Bless her heart, she was just trying to help but good lord. Use your noggin. So I called my mom to tell her and she thought it was the funniest thing ever. Apparently Jeff and I as children were helpful too. She couldn't remember the total number of dollars spent fixing where we helped. See another fine example of how you just can't fight DNA.

I will be packing and getting rid of junk this weekend. It never ceases to amaze me at just how much stuff one person can accumulate. I will make an attempt at organizing the stuff I do move to storage so that maybe when I come back for it, I will actually be able to find what I am looking for. Hopefully if all the stars align perfectly, we will have Taylor's room finished this weekend. Sounds like a huge accomplishment but not really. I have too much stuff!!!

Cohabitating.

One thing that I have learned about myself in recent years is that as much as I love the company of others at various times, I have gotten used to my alone time. Probably because I had so much of it when Taylor was visiting various family. I love it. Don't mind one bit being alone. Then came Brandon. I still like being alone but also love to spend time with him. He makes me laugh often. He likes alot of the same things I do so we enjoy our time together. So after almost two years, we are working towards cohabitating. I said it, out loud, just so it would be more real. It's been along time since I have shared the same home as a man. I am a little scared. Not because I don't want to move in, but because I don't really know if my nerves can take a man day to day. I guess I will just have to reprogram my mind. Once you have been single for a while and get used to it, you start to really enjoy it. Not that you don't crave the attention of another from time to time but you realize the importance of the time you get to spend with yourself. And it is important! I have friends who are never away from their children and thats what works for them. But me, I love the time I get to spend by myself. Away from all other human beings. It rejuvinates me even if I am only watching tv.

So here we go, this will either be the beginning of something beautiful or you can find him at the bottom of Humboldt Lake. Only kidding. Mostly.

Did January fly by or what?

Ok so I have had a bit of trouble uploading pictures so you will not be seeing the Gatlinburg pictures today. It took me a week or better to get the pictures below loaded. Wow, we are in the second month of 2010. Where did the time go?

Brandon and I took our trip to Gatlinburg in January. We had lots of fun. We hiked to Rainbow Falls and checked out a few places that we had not been. We actually shopped for about 30 seconds on the day we left. I think it was just because we didn't want to leave and wanted an excuse to stay a bit longer.
When we got back, we took Taylor to Elephant Rock State Park in Missouri. She had a ball and we stopped in at Lamberts on the way home. It was the first time either of us had been and we enjoyed it. Taylor loved the rolls being thrown and I loved the food. Wow!!! The pictures below are from Elephant Rock State Park.
I will try to blog more but maybe without so many pictures.

Ready to Leave

At the top of Clingman's Dome in October 2009.

I am always so ready to leave for a trip. And since meeting Brandon, we've been on a few. Today is no different. I am giddy almost. I look so forward to the hiking. He is planning to get us to the top of Rainbow Falls at sunrise. I can't even imagine right now how beautiful that will be. I hope to get some really good pictures of that.

I really need more than anything else just to get away and enjoy some peace and solitude. Life is busy and doesn't allow for that unless you make the time.

I have been experimenting with meditation. I have to find someway to quiet all this craziness in my head. We all have it. You know, the constant stream of thoughts that just eat at you. I have had a few moments of success with it and those have been pure bliss but mostly I get upset because right in the middle of breathing I will think something ridiculous like that I need to clean the toilet. I mean really random shit. But I am trying and most days that is ok.

So Gatlinburg, here I come.

A New Year

So another new year rolls around. I have noticed lately that they seem to be rolling around faster. Kinda like being on a really fast rollercoaster headed towards the end of life. Not that I think I am dying but I am trying to pay attention as things fly by. You ever feel like that? Like it is just all moving so fast.

We were supposed to get lots of snow last night. We did not. Just barely a dusting. Taylor was devastated and wanted to stay home from school anyway. I can be a stickler when it comes to school attendance and did not allow her to stay home all day. I did however let her check in an hour late. She did not see it as a gift but did not turn it down either. I can not wait until she has children of her own.

I found out yesterday that my sister is pregnant again. She is letting the new knowledge grow on her. With one turning two in June, she will have her hands when the new baby gets here but she will do fine. I wanted so badly to ask if she realized how this happens but figured I would save that comment for when she was in better spirits.

Brandon and I leave for our Gatlinburg trip in a little more than a week and I am ready for a break. The fresh air will be great. Especially since I have not smoked a cigarrette in a week and can actually breathe. I am ready to hike and get some good snow pictures as well. Hopefully there will be snow there while we visit. Four whole days to rejuvenate are so needed after Christmas. The above picture was taken in October 09 when we went to Gatlinburg for one day to take pictures of the beautiful color change. This was on our way out of the park coming home. It was also Taylor's first trip. Hope everyone is having a Happy New Year.