Bye, Friend Youngs

Bye, friend Lisa and Bradley.

I hope you like Georgia.

I hope you drive safe.

I hope you beat the hurricane.

I hope your stuff gets there, too.

I hope it's all there.

I hope it's not broken.

I hope you like your new house.

I hope you have a room, or a couch, for me.

I hope you know I'm coming to visit.

I hope your kitties don't cry too much.

I hope you don't cry too much.

I hope you like your new job.

I hope you like your new town.

I hope you like your new ward.

I hope you make new friends.

I hope you learn to like onions.

I hope you can find renters.

I hope they're not crazy.

I hope you can come to Disney for Thanksgiving.

I hope you remember Carolina.

I hope you remember the good times.

I hope you get to spend more time with Lissa and the boys.

I hope you get to make more good times.

I hope you get to remember what's it like to live in a small town.

I hope that that's a good thing.

I hope you still vote democrat after living there a year or so.

I hope for a Target, or at least a Kroger, to come to town.

I hope you find peace.

I hope you find happiness.

I hope you find joy.

I hope you know I'll miss you lots.

I hope you know I love you more.

Bye, friend Lisa and Bradley.

I hope you like Georgia.

Get yourself right

So... some of you may have heard.

The eastern seaboard decided to do a little rockin' and rollin' on Tuesday.

Lil' ole Mineral Springs, VA was hit by a 5.8 earthquake at 1:50pm....

... and I felt it in lil' ole Knightdale, NC.

But they are hundreds of miles apart. There is no way you felt it, you say...

But I did... and weather.com explained why (they're nice like that)

Basically, the eastern ground isn't as mangled as the western ground

(that's why there is no Grand Canyon out here)

So when the earth does decide to change its position,

it has a much larger 'ripple effect' than out west.

Cool.

So anyway... I was sitting in my office

and the ceiling tiles start rattlin'

and the books starts wigglin'

and the floor starts movin'

and my chair starts jigglin'

and papers start shiftin'

and I start walkin'

toward the door.

Enough.

As I did,

one of the school counselors comes

running out of her office like it's on fire

asking, "What was that? What was that?"

Needless to say, she was a little freaked.

I told her it felt like an earthquake and that freaked her out more.

Oops.

But within a few minutes,

thanks to the Internets,

we were able to confirm that

Yes, Virginia, you did have an earthquake.

As we were searching weather nets to find the truth,

she asked me, "Why is this happening?

There were earthquakes in Colorado, now here.

What is happening??"

I took that as my cue to

preach the word, and answered,

"You read the book of Revelation?

You better get yourself right!"

But apparently we here on the East Coast haven't learned our lesson yet.

Cause Mother Earth is not done with us for the week...

so you'll have to excuse me...

someone's at the door.

I need to close the blinds

turn out the lights,

and pretend I'm not home.

Maybe if I do that,

Hurricane Irene

will go away.

*Silly me moment for the day: Earthquake happened at 1:50 ish. I meet with a student at 2:15 for a therapy session. I pull out the materials we're going to use and start explaining what I'd like us to talk about that day... then they remind me who should be in charge of therapy sessions... "Um... can we talk about the earthquake please, cause I'm scared!" Oh yeah... you're here and I'm supposed to be helping you deal with your emotions. I guess I need to know what your emotions are! Sorry about that, and thanks for the reminder!

Happy Death Day!

I'm going to say it on the Internet.

Which makes it true.

(Everybody knows that)

So here goes...

Allyson turned 29

and declared that she would be having

no more birthdays.

Guess that calls for a funeral...

First, the food:

In true Mormon fashion...

though Lady couldn't come and make a chocolate cake.

I think she owes Allyson... don't you?

Now, for some eulogizing...

Thanks, Tennyson and Courtney

for providing such touching words of comfort

Burying all future birthday wishes

was a touching moment for all.

At least she left us stuff...

James O. Mayo, Executor

Laura - one of the birthday bereaved -

was willed the garden that was never planted

The Heilpern's display their deep sadness

for the demise of Allyson's birthdays...

right before they scatter the ashes

of all her past birthdays....

Luckily, all this memorializing

didn't seem to traumatize Allyson too much!

Happy Birthday Allyson!!!!

*funny story for the night - the bereaved were parked in a variety of locations around the house...including the street (which is not highly looked upon by the HOA). One of the neighbors came to express her concern... right around the time that a few mourners were leaving and some others coming in. She knocked on the door and started to complain about the parking... the folks walking up handed Allyson a cake and said, "Sorry for your loss." The neighbor then looks in and sees all the black and starts apologizing profusely.... she thought we were having a real funeral! Classic!!

Something Tasty!

Something tasty for your back to school blues....

Carolina BBQ:
6 lb pork roast
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 Cup vinegar (I like to do half white vinegar and half cider vinegar)
4 T Worchestershire Sauce
2 T sugar
1 T red pepper flakes (or more if you like it spicy)
1 T salt (sometimes I leave this out)
2 tsp black pepper

Put all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8 to 10 hours. Pull aparts with some forks.

*If it's still not spicy enough, add some tabasco!

*Serve with some coleslaw, corn on the cob, cornbread and/or baked beans!

*If you come visit me, I'll make you some BBQ, and even share my sauce from "Hog'n the Grill" pitmaster, Drewry Goodwyn!

SO GOOD!