Back in Action

It's time to celebrate!!  ADB and I finally bought another computer.  YEAH!!!  So, that means I'm back in the blog world.  Sorry that I have been absent so long.  But don't worry I'm back and have not given up on the blog.  It is just hard to update when you don't have a computer!!

Few Updates:

1.  For Christmas, we spent a week with my family in Virginia.   Fun, Fun!

2.  It has "snowed" twice here in Memphis this month.  I use the word "snow" lightly as there was snow on the ground, but it was just a covering.  Nothing like the snow we had in New York.  People got so excited about the snow and I've heard this is the most snow they have had in quite a while.  ADB and I didn't really venture out and play or anything, we simply rejoiced that we didn't have to shovel or clean off our cars (yeah for the covered parking)!

3.  Besides a computer, we bought a new chair.  It might take the place of the "king" chair, but ADB isn't sure which one he likes the best.  I will say he spends a large majority of the time in the new chair.  A picture to come soon (I hope).   Need to download some from our camera.

4.   Bailey is doing well.  We went running the other day together for the first time since our outing several months ago.  As you may remember he didn't make it very far.  This time he made it a bit farther (maybe a mile and a half) and he did run faster.  But, halfway through the run I did stop by the house and drop him off.  ADB and I have been trying to shave off some weight and get him into better shape.  We have a bit more to go!!

5.  I've been knitting a bit more.  Some of my friends here have been having some of the cutest babies and so I've been making some baby hats for them.  Hopefully I'll post some pictures of those soon.

That's really it.  It's good to be back and I'll try to post some pictures soon!!! 

Soccer is over

The soccer season is over. And as promised a picture. We played our last 2 games in 30 degree weather. Chilly! We did win our division, but lost in the playoffs. We played a team that was in the highest (meaning they were better players) division. So, it wasn't surprising that we lost. We gave a good fight, but in the end they were just better... A lot better.

This is a picture from the first cold night. The game was at 8:30 pm and so it looks dark and cold and it was. It might have been in the 20's. This is my friend Rosanne. She is the one that told me about the team! Yeah for Rosanne! I was sad to peel the layers off at the start of the game. The hardest piece of clothing to part with was my hat at game time. Anyway, here we are.

Updates

I haven't written in a while and now it will be even more sporadic as our computer at home has just died. Sad, sad day. All my fun pictures I was going to post were on that thing. What a love/hate relationship is going on now between the computer and myself. When I see it, I want to give it a drop kick, but then I remember we can still salvage some stuff from it so I release the urge.

Here are some updates:

1. For all of you out there that have been concerned about my black sweater. I have found one. Target came through for me in the clutch.

2. Auburn lost the game that ADB and I went to at Ole Miss. Not a huge surprise since they haven't had a winner season this year. Nonetheless, it was fun to see the Grove and Ole Miss and all the tailgating that goes on. It is huge here in the south. Also, before the game, there were parachuters that landed on the field (amazing) as well as 2 jets that flew over the field (also amazing). I had pictures but they are under lock down on the dead computer.

3. We were so excited for all the trick or treaters that we would have this year living in a neighborhood. So, I went out and bought all this candy...well I bought 3 bags which is a drastic increase in candy that we have ever had to buy. Living in NY, we only had like 3 people even come to our door. In preparation for the big night, I asked my neighbor how many people would actually come and the number of bags I needed to buy. I didn't want to be that house that ran out of candy. No one would ever come to our house again. She said I needed more. So, off to the store I went to buy more. Needless to say, we didn't have very many trick or treaters. We had way more than in NY, but we had lots of candy left over. Good to know for next year. Also, that same day, ADB wanted to get a chiminea. So, we got one. We put it together and had a little fire going to all that passed by. It was a little chilly that night. One little boy came up to the chiminea, got some candy and commented on how cool the chiminea was then said to ADB, "I respect this house." Not exactly sure what that means, but hey at least he respects it. We got a good little laugh out of that one.

4. We waited an hour and 15 minutes to early vote for the election. This was something totally new to us. After living in a small town in upstate New York for seven years, we have never had to wait in line for an election or even consider early voting. In fact, I don't know if it was even an option. So, in line we waited to vote before Nov. 4th so we wouldn't have to wait in an even longer line that day.

5. My soccer team lost its first game last night. At game time, it was low thirties. That's cold for Memphis. I was a bit chilly. Feeling in my toes was only gained after 20 minutes of playing. So, my conclusion is that we don't do well in the cold...and the other team passed extremely well. Playoffs are next week...we shall see how we do.

Now I am in Colorado visiting my sister. Her husband in out of town for business, so I'm here to help with the two kids. They are 4 and 20 months. Thus, the computer access as well.

October went by fast!!

Well this update is way overdue!!

October has been a busy month for us. Let me catch you up on the happenings of our household!

October has been visitor month. We have been blessed to have so many visitors stay at our humble abode. We LOVE to have people stay with us! I mean we do have 2 extra bedrooms. One has a queen bed in it and the other has a bunk bed. So, we could possibly open up as a bed and breakfast, but I don't think I'm ready to start the breakfast thing yet. :)

We had ADB's Mom stay the first weekend. We went to a Fall Crafts Fair. Lots of crafts. The neatest thing we saw (ADB's favorite) was this guy who makes 1700 style furniture. He had a chair that has an attached little desk with candle holder. Cutest thing ever and really comfortable. We were so tempted to buy one, but some drawbacks were he has a 2 year waiting list and the chair costs about $800. So needless to say, we just walked away with a pamphlet and no chair. While she was here, ADB decided to trim some branches off a tree in our backyard. He used this tree or pole chainsaw. I can't remember what I was doing while all this excitement was going on, but ADB's Mom was there to watch and call emergency services if they were needed. He did great and no phone calls were made. Yeah for safety!! Here he is with his machine and Bailey.

We also had a friend come from Ohio. He worked on Guest Services with ADB at camp. While he was here, he helped ADB cut up all the big branches into little firewood and throw out a bunch of the small stuff/brush. We are hoping to get one of those cool outside chimney things. We just need to tear down our shed in the back first. Anybody want to come visit and help us do that??? The next week, a friend from New York came to visit. It was so great to see them both.

Then, we had a brief drop in from another friend from New York as well. He flew in for some business, but then had to get going so we only spent some time in the afternoon with him. Here is a little photo:
Did you notice we are wearing shorts?? The weather is amazing. It is 60's (maybe a low 70) in the day and gets down to 40 during the night.

The next weekend, I ran in a 5k race for breast cancer. I think this was the most people I have ever ran in a race with before. There were so many people. I don't think I got to the start line until a minute after the race actually begin. Then for the first mile we were running around other runners and walkers trying not to trip anyone accidentally along the way. It was a fun time. I went with four other girls and we had a blast. I wish I had some pictures, but they are experiencing some computer problems, so no photos as of yet.

My soccer team is still undefeated and we are winning our division. Our last game, we had a potential fist fight break out. Never a dull moment with our team. I think we have gone one game without a card of some type.

Tomorrow, ADB and I are heading out to Ole Miss for the Auburn/Ole Miss football game. My first SEC football game!! Lets go tigers!! WAR EAGLE! I'll try to post some pictures soon!

Soccer Update

We are still undefeated!! No goals scored by yours truly, but I have had some shots...nothing to write home about except one of them did hit the goal post. Disappointing that one didn't go in. For a real run down of the games, you can talk with ADB...my faithful spectator from the sidelines. He's great at describing my shot that hit the post...he adds the comments that were made from the bench. No pictures yet, but maybe one day I'll have ADB snap a shot.

Little Black Sweater

Well, I have some sad news to report. My little black sweater will be entering sweater forever land. I don't know about you, but my little black sweater is a must for my wardrobe. You know the ever reliable piece of clothing. It goes with everything for all of the seasons. Don't leave home without if kind of clothing (very much so for me since I'm cold all the time). I was in a grocery store one time and of course freezing in there so I pulled out my handy black sweater from my bag and put it on. My friend was like where did you get that from? I said from my bag (still don't carry a purse, just my rugged mountain bag with heavy duty bottom - which I have a funny story about and am thankful for the durable waterproof bottom - I'll have to tell that story at a later date). Anyway, she thought it was so handy and so called it my little purse sweater. She was making fun of course as do most people who find out I carry a sweater everywhere I go, but it has been a life saver for me and it goes with everything...

The sad news is I found a hole in the elbow the other day. It already had holes in both cuffs, but I was able to cover those up without too many people noticing... a hole in the elbow is a bit more noticable. I didn't realize it until the other day when I felt a little breeze come across my elbow. In shock, I felt the elbow and found the disappointing hole. How did this happen? That really isn't that hard of a question since I wear it pretty much everyday.

So, on the hunt I go for the perfect black sweater. I'll be in mourning for a bit, and have to find a substitute for the time being, but never fear...the purse sweater will be back and it will be black!!

First Game

We won!! Yeah! Our record is 3-0. I missed the first 2 games because of two reasons, 1. I signed up late and didn't know the first game happened until it was already over 2. I didn't get my picture in on time. Didn't really know that was a major thing until they told me I couldn't play. Anyway, all that to say, I'm in and playing. What excitement and fun!

I was a bit nervous when I stepped into my cleats I hadn't worn in quite a while. Good thing they still fit. I played the whole game (you have to have 4 girls on the field at all times - and we only had 4 girls there). I was hoping for a sub at several points in the game.

A few things I noticed:
1. I'm not as fast as I used to be. Am I getting older?

2. It takes a bit for the men to pass a newcomer the ball. Not that I'm blaming them (they don't know me or my skills), but passing is a key element in soccer. I'm sure they didn't want to pass the ball to me and then me end of losing it, but there is always that risk in soccer.

3. Running several times a week for a half hour is not good conditioning for playing a soccer game. I am so sore!! The night after I played, I awoke at 2:30am and was wide awake. I mean not a bit of tiredness in me. Since my body was in pain, I decided to stretch and drink some gatorade. I'm sure there were electrolytes that weren't replenished. This is when I'm thankful for a dog. I didn't want to wake up ADB, so I went to the living room and of course Bailey comes in too. What a great companion!! So, there I am stretching and drinking Gatorade with my puppy at my side. I did eventually head back to bed. ADB didn't even know I had left when I asked him in the morning. Guess I was super quiet.

4. I need some new shinguards. My old ones are pretty nasty, but they will do for a few more games.

5. I need to add some elements to my workout so I'm not so sore next week. My husband's office mate and some other people run some sprints in the morning at a track. I'm going to try to join them next week.

I'll keep you posted on how we are doing! I'm hoping that next week I won't be so sore. It's been a while since my muscles have cried out like this.