Pardon me, boys...

is that the Chattanooga Choo-choo?

We actually chose a vacation destination -- Chattanooga, TN -- only about a four hour drive and lots of fun stuff to do -- including some historical things. No big whoop but the fact that we are actually going somewhere is momentous.

I'll wave when I'm at the top of Lookout Mountain -- make sure you wave back!!

America the Talented

I'm sashaying once again down the reality TV road. I've said many times before that I don't have any problems with reality TV the way some people do. I mean, hey, if people watch it, they're gonna' keep making 'em. And we all have control of the off button, I do believe.

Anyway, I've been sucked into America's Got Talent for the first time. And all I can say is the dang show has made me nearly weep more than once. What's up with that?! Anyway, the guy singing the Garth Brooks song nearly did me in -- and he wasn't my type nor is country music my thang. But, there I was, fighting the tears. American Idol never did that!!

By the way, I haven't mentioned AI or Adam Lambert in awhile, have I? Okay, I've joined his official Facebook page, joined his website -- and, in case you've forgotten, I'm going to the AI concert in Charlotte on August 1.

Today, while having my toes painted blood red in honor of the 4th of July, I contemplated having them painted black for the Adam -- I mean the AI -- concert. But, nobody will see them -- I'm not about to have my toes out in the open where folks can stampede on them in some mad dash to get to one of their favorite contestants.

Not that I would do such a thing. Seriously, I wouldn't. I might break a hip.

Anyway, maybe the next reality show should be called America's Got Trouble.

Oh, wait. They're playing that daily already.

Going Nowhere Fast

Another summer has come and, once again, we've made no vacation plans. In fact, we haven't been on a real vacation in years. I don't know why we can never seem to make plans but we just don't and, then the time my hubby has taken off from work, just goes down the drain. Well, not entirely, we can always go to the lake but that's not a vacation -- not for me, anyway, because when I'm there, I have to do all the same things I do here -- laundry, cooking, cleaning -- all of those things I love so much that I can't wait to do them twice.

All of the deciding where to go and what to do always falls to me -- so, if I don't make any suggestions, then I get all the blame. You know, it's funny, but the sentence, "whatever you want to do" is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's a great thing to be told; on the other, it can be a burden.

Of course, we have another problem -- a very old dog who's blind and can't be left alone for more than a few hours at a time. Board him, you say? Well, that's easy for some folks but we never board our dogs -- we have a room on the back of our house (it was a screened-in porch when we bought the house) where the dogs stay when we're gone -- there's a dog door and plenty of room for all (six) of them. For a long trip, I can have someone come over and check them -- but there's no way I could leave Spencer to fend for himself overnight. So far, he's been able to find his way around -- he goes out and comes back in -- but I worry that if he somehow got stuck outside, he'd die from the heat. I just can't deal with that.

Anyway, I suggested we go down to Universal Studios in Orlando -- that's about an 8 hour drive for us. But Mark has already complained that it would be too hot. He suggested Williamsburg -- about the same amount of driving but north. However, I don't know that it's not just as hot there -- and I don't think they have express passes, either. At this point, considering the target date of arrival is only two weeks away, it's not looking good for anywhere.

It's not a big deal for us, really, but I feel bad for Carrie who never has any vacation stories to tell. Of course, how boring is it, anyway, to go off with just your mom and dad?

So, I don't know. I need a break -- some time away in a place where it's not up to me to decide what's for dinner or to make sure everybody has clean towels.

What I wouldn't give for a transporter -- no packing, no traveling -- and sleep in my own bed every night. With my own dogs. And the TiVo. And my computer in close proximity.

Hmmm. I'm beginning to think I really don't want to go anywhere after all. Maybe a good book would do me just as well.

Celebrity Wipeout

I've been watching I'm a Celebrity...Get me out of here... I decided to watch this based solely on the participation of "Jungle Boy" Sanjaya (erstwhile American Idol contestant). The show is fairly dumb and not really very exciting -- yet, I'm watching it like I would a train wreck -- I simply cannot look away. Of course, like any reality show, I can't help but wonder, what's real and what isn't? How much of this is hamming it up for the camera? Well, either way, there are crazy pseudo-celebrities down in Costa Rica swimming with (baby) crocodiles and handling snakes -- so they've got one up on me right there.

My other love, at the moment, is a show called Wipeout. This isn't in my normal interest area either but I caught a portion of an episode last year and I was hooked. Why, I ask you, is it funny to watch people appear to have broken every bone in their body? Part of the charm of the show is host John Hensen -- funny guy. The other host -- another John (Anderson) -- does a great job as straight man, though sometimes his dry delivery cracks me up, too. My whole family (well, the three of us at home now) watch this show. We're just fascinated, I suppose, with big balls.

Anyway, maybe the next logical step is Celebrity Wipeout.

I'd watch.

Disappearing act

From Imagination Prompt:

If you disappeared today, who would be affected?

Now I've got to figure out my importance to other people -- which goes against the grain, as I'm not big on tooting my own horn. To be honest, I don't think it would affect anybody other than my immediate family --and not so sure it would affect them long-term. There might be a few other folks here and there who would be a wee bit sad and who might miss me for a little while but, otherwise, no -- I'm just an average person, living my average life.

Let's see, how would my disappearance affect my children? Well, probably not as much today as it would have when they were small. But, then again, maybe a young girl of 17 needs a mother more than ever. My eldest is out on her own so she doesn't need me -- not in the strictest sense of the word. My son is in a different world entirely -- not sure if that's because he's a male or because he's in college or because he's just got other fish to fry. I think they would all grieve but then they'd get on with their lives (as they should).

My husband? Oh, he'd go to pieces. Absolute pieces. But I don't think he could live alone for very long -- I've requested that he have a respectable period of mourning first. And to always listen to his children if they have concerns about a wicked stepmother. And to make sure that anything they are supposed to inherit already has their name on it. No, I'm not planning on going anywhere but you never know. I've heard about too many people my age dropping dead lately not to give it a passing thought.

In the day to day sense, the person who'd be affected the most would be my mother. She is nearly 85 and still lives alone but I am her primary caregiver. I'm not sure what would happen but I feel sorry for whoever has to deal with it.

Now, the real question is if you disappeared not if you died. But I think someone disappearing opens up a whole other can of worms. Then loved ones would spend their lives wondering where and why -- and living in limbo. That, I think, is probably worse than knowing someone is dead.

But don't think I haven't thought about it.

Haven't you?

Home again

We just got back from Myrtle Beach, SC -- sounds great, I suppose, other than it's January and not really the beach-going time of year. But that's not why we went, anyway -- it was the first away game for my daughter's traveling volleyball team (sometimes the games are here so its the other teams which have to travel). They didn't do great -- they were down their two hitters (because they had to take the SATs) but they held their own, considering, though they did not advance into tournament play. They seemed to have fun, too. Which may have had something to do with the fact that the two who were not there are the biggest grumblers.

Anyway, I hadn't been to Myrtle Beach, tourist mecca that it is, for years. I hate to say how many years but I was a child then and, now, well, I'm far from it. The only thing I really remember about that long ago trip was that there were trampolines built into the sand on the beach. Funny the things we remember.

It rained all day yesterday and was cold there today so, other than volleyball, we didn't do much -- nor did we have the time anyway -- but there is plenty to do there, if you like the tacky, touristy-type of stuff. Still, it may be a place we'll go back one day -- they have an aquarium and several Ripley's attractions, plus Medieval Times where Carrie and I have been wanting to go (there is one in Atlanta, too). I need some place to where my Richard III earrings and pendant, thank you Ebay.

When I woke this morning, I opened the curtains to see what the day looked like -- we weren't on the beach but were close enough to see it -- especially since we were on the 8th floor of the hotel. The rays of the sun were striking the water, illuminating circles here and there -- quite a lovely sight -- but, of course, I had forgotten my camera. How many times have I uttered the words, "I wish I had my camera!". A bunch -- and one more to add to it.

We stayed at one of the "higher end" hotels -- mainly because it was close to the volleyball venue -- and because the off-season rates were very low. But, I realized again, that I really prefer the "middle" type hotels -- they usually have free internet connections and a breakfast -- this hotel had neither. Really, the only extra was room service, which we did not and never do use. Other that that, it was two beds, a TV and a bathroom. Nothing special.

So, we are home and glad of it. No matter where I roam or how good a time I may have had, home -- with smelly, loud dogs, my computer and TiVo -- is where I want to be.

He gave his life for tourism...

We traveled to Atlanta yesterday to see the King Tutankhamun exhibit at the Civic Center. This was something I'd always wanted to see but never had the chance -- I wasn't disappointed. To stand there, in front of objects and statues which were that old, just boggled my mind. The small items were under glass but I was amazed at the larger statuary which were situated out in the open -- protected with a security system but still right there. We literally could get close enough to touch -- and was it tempting -- but everyone was very respectful to these pieces of antiquity. We saw everything -- from a huge sculpture of the Boy King to a marble toilet seat. I think one of the most interesting things to me was the small chair which had belonged to Tut -- made of wood, it is absolutely amazing that it survived all of these years.

It was long thought that King Tut was killed by a blow to the back of the head but, according to research, they've now concluded that he may have died because of a broken leg -- which led to massive infection. Now, I suppose someone could have beat him up but these findings make it more likely that he may have met with an accident -- a fall, perhaps.

Another thing I didn't know (among many) was that one of the reasons that Tut's tomb was relatively untouched, through the years, was because Tut was actually a very minor king -- in fact, because of his association with the king before him -- Akhenaton, who abolished the worship of multiple gods -- Tut's name was actually removed from many statues and official records. Even though Tut brought back the worship of multiple gods, it apparently wasn't enough -- he died at 19 and was pretty much forgotten.

He's not forgotten now.

I just wish I could get that Steve Martin song out of my head...

Savannah

Going to volleyball games gets old sometimes (or maybe it's just me who's getting old) but when we end up in places like Savannah, I can't complain. Savannah is steeped in history -- maybe not the medieval history which I love the most but plenty of early and Revolutionary American history. Savannah is only about 2 1/2 hours away from where we live (and the Savannah River runs through my city) but it's almost like being in another world. Here's a photo of the Colonial Cemetery in the middle of the historic district. Some of the grave stones are so old, they can't be read any longer. I could feel the history through my shoes. And a couple of ant bites...but it was worth it...

Spoiling Myself

I seldom make major jewelry purchases for myself. I leave the big purchases to my hubby -- usually for birthday, Christmas, anniversary, Mother's Day. But, sometimes, I get tired of the really expensive jewelry (I'm partial to David Yurman -- but I've got enough of it) and just want something unique. I found Sorrelli Jewelry in a folk art store in north Georgia during a recent visit. I thought it was just exquisite -- and I bought one pair of earrings. After I got home I looked them up on the web and discovered they are the suppliers for the jewelry you see in the THE TUDORS miniseries on Showtime. Anyway, I just ordered myself several more pieces. After all, I am the queen around here.

A little R&R

This is the York House -- the oldest Bed & Breakfast in Georgia. And, tomorrow evening I'll be there for a couple of days. I can't wait. We stayed here last year and loved it -- flea market, antique shopping, wandering aimlessly -- here I come.

On the road again...

Today we make the long trek to Waycross, Georgia, where my daughter's fiance is from -- his church is giving her a bridal shower and I figured I needed to be there -- since I am the mother of the bride. I wish we had time to visit the Okefenoke Swamp -- but, alas, we have to come back early tomorrow for a volleyball picnic. The story of my life right now -- wedding stuff and volleyball -- though this will be the last of the volleyball. Until July.