Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Long Lost Pictures
I was able to access some of my cell phone pictures while I was in Utah, so here are pictures to go along with some of our past adventures.
Our cute niece, Abby
Jeff on the Longleaf Trace, a walking trail near our house. We live right on the boundary between Forrest and Lamar counties, so Jeff is giving a thumbs down for Lamar Co. since we live in Forrest Co.
Jeff directing the deafening bug chorus coming from the trees
Jeff with the cougars at the Collins Exotic Animal Orphanage
The Obscene Goat
Jeff posing with pumpkins at Mitchell Farms
Notice the turkey claw hooks. Waste not, want not?
Jeff with the cheese graters at the museum
On Recent Goings. On.
Dear all,
Time to catch up, eh?
Nearly a week later, I'm still overjoyed at my wife's return. She's bastante cool, and I adore her. Not having her around was awful--though, don't get me wrong, I'm very glad that she got to visit her family and enjoy herself for her birthday. And, sure, I get by, without her around, but not very well. To illustrate, in completely ineffective manner: Imagine a day at the beach without waves. You can go, you can splash around, but after a while you say, Hey, why no waves, and the beach really isn't that fun without the waves, it's just like a big brown stupid lake, and it's boring, and you feel all alone, and people ask you at church where your wife is and the house is eerily quiet and and and MELANIE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE AGAIN!
Ahem.
Sorry 'bout that. But now--after quite the ordeal in Dallas, as she's previously blogged--she's back, and happy times are here again.
On Friday, The Center for Writers hosted their monthly "Cafe Night" reading series, wherein authors in the program are invited to read their work. I was asked to read, so I chose "Rigor Mortis: A Thanksgiving Story," my romp about a dude who wants to be buried on Temple Square. I think it went well--several people commented that they liked it, which relieved me, since I was wondering how an LDS-themed story would go over in a bar. (Yes, in a bar--it seems that the English Department would permanently relocate to a bar if they had the chance, since nearly all of the department's functions are held in bars, as it is.) (On a related note, I've started drinking beer.)
After the reading, we went over to a small reception hosted by an acquaintance of mine in the program. (Of course I'm not drinking beer.) It was great--she'd made a cranberry-chocolate biscotti loaf, and, between me and the hostess' dog, it was disappearing pretty fast. (The dog was so cute--it had learned how to roll over and play dead, and I had to reward it with biscotti...)
I'm also very thrilled, very, because my family is coming to visit in a week. Woot! Hallelujah! Salute! M. and I are planning fun excursions; I was trying to find a good Southern barbecue joint to visit, and, when I asked about a famous place in town--it's been featured on The Travel Channel and everything--I was told, "That is good food, and it's been years since they were caught recycling people's iced tea." Yes, apparently the wait staff would go around the restaurant and empty the remnants of patrons' glasses into a communal pitcher and re-use it. But, hey, since I don't drink iced tea, I don't see any problem.
Well, TTFN. Rock on.
Time to catch up, eh?
Nearly a week later, I'm still overjoyed at my wife's return. She's bastante cool, and I adore her. Not having her around was awful--though, don't get me wrong, I'm very glad that she got to visit her family and enjoy herself for her birthday. And, sure, I get by, without her around, but not very well. To illustrate, in completely ineffective manner: Imagine a day at the beach without waves. You can go, you can splash around, but after a while you say, Hey, why no waves, and the beach really isn't that fun without the waves, it's just like a big brown stupid lake, and it's boring, and you feel all alone, and people ask you at church where your wife is and the house is eerily quiet and and and MELANIE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE AGAIN!
Ahem.
Sorry 'bout that. But now--after quite the ordeal in Dallas, as she's previously blogged--she's back, and happy times are here again.
On Friday, The Center for Writers hosted their monthly "Cafe Night" reading series, wherein authors in the program are invited to read their work. I was asked to read, so I chose "Rigor Mortis: A Thanksgiving Story," my romp about a dude who wants to be buried on Temple Square. I think it went well--several people commented that they liked it, which relieved me, since I was wondering how an LDS-themed story would go over in a bar. (Yes, in a bar--it seems that the English Department would permanently relocate to a bar if they had the chance, since nearly all of the department's functions are held in bars, as it is.) (On a related note, I've started drinking beer.)
After the reading, we went over to a small reception hosted by an acquaintance of mine in the program. (Of course I'm not drinking beer.) It was great--she'd made a cranberry-chocolate biscotti loaf, and, between me and the hostess' dog, it was disappearing pretty fast. (The dog was so cute--it had learned how to roll over and play dead, and I had to reward it with biscotti...)
I'm also very thrilled, very, because my family is coming to visit in a week. Woot! Hallelujah! Salute! M. and I are planning fun excursions; I was trying to find a good Southern barbecue joint to visit, and, when I asked about a famous place in town--it's been featured on The Travel Channel and everything--I was told, "That is good food, and it's been years since they were caught recycling people's iced tea." Yes, apparently the wait staff would go around the restaurant and empty the remnants of patrons' glasses into a communal pitcher and re-use it. But, hey, since I don't drink iced tea, I don't see any problem.
Well, TTFN. Rock on.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Fun Surprise
Today on the drive back to Hattiesburg I got a big suprise--a phone call from El Salvador from my dear friend and mission companion, Patty Putzeis. We had a nice long chat in Spanish (it went pretty well except for my getting stuck on the word bigot while explaining the whole prop 8 controversy--though, to my credit, Jeff didn't know that word either). I learned that Patty now has two little boys and that she's become a campesina/country girl (she had to leave the capitol, San Salvador, for someplace with cleaner air for her baby's health).
I visited Patty's family in El Salvador about six years ago and also have a very special place in my heart for her mom, brother, and sister. Last time I saw Patty's brother, Tito (Estuardo), he was twelve years old. Now he's super tall and preparing to go on a mission. And her sister has two girls, one of whom, I learned, was given the middle name of Melanie (that makes one little Melanie in El Salvador and another in Costa Rica).
Of course, I had to come home and look at pictures of Patty and her family and reminisce. It was one of those moments when you say to yourself, "Man, I have a good life." The people make it so.
Thanks to everyone who made my birthday wonderful this year and sent kind notes and thoughts my way!
Patty, Tito, & Patty's mom in El Salvador
Me and Patty playing in a Costa Rican monsoon
Me and Patty with our special family in Costa Rica
I visited Patty's family in El Salvador about six years ago and also have a very special place in my heart for her mom, brother, and sister. Last time I saw Patty's brother, Tito (Estuardo), he was twelve years old. Now he's super tall and preparing to go on a mission. And her sister has two girls, one of whom, I learned, was given the middle name of Melanie (that makes one little Melanie in El Salvador and another in Costa Rica).
Of course, I had to come home and look at pictures of Patty and her family and reminisce. It was one of those moments when you say to yourself, "Man, I have a good life." The people make it so.
Thanks to everyone who made my birthday wonderful this year and sent kind notes and thoughts my way!
Home Again...Tucker Style
The plan was to get home last night so that I could spend some time with Jeff on my birthday, but I guess it just wasn't to be.
Due to bad weather, DFW airport closed up shop last night (they pulled out the cots and everything). As a result, AA (American Airlines, not Alcoholics Anonymous)got me a "deal" at the Hotel Elegante Formal (I'm not making up the name--that's really what it's called). Well, it was raining so hard that it took the driver 45 minutes to pick us up at the airport, and then we began the long trek back to the hotel.
Since we were experiencing a major downpour/lightning storm, there was about zero visibility. Accordingly, the driver took it slow at 35 mph. Every once in a while, we noticed the van meandering back and forth across the road. This swaying action was accompanied by an incoherent high pitched squeal from the driver. The poor guy had a death grip on the wheel. At this point, one of my stranger-friends-in-crisis in the shuttle offered to start passing out meds to the other passengers. We all laughed nervously as we plodded along to the outer reaches of Dallas. The same aforementioned stranger-friend-in-crisis then remarked on how excited she was to see all the adult entertainment venues in that particular neighborhood. Luckily, just minutes later, we pulled up to our hotel. I gave the poor driver a tip and said, "Good driving!" As I entered the hotel, I noticed a huge stone slab with the ten commandments engraven upon it (my guesss was that it was intended to combat the evils of the neighborhood).
The hotel was surprisingly nice and comfortable, so much so, in fact, that I stayed up until the wee hours watching Little People Big World and the like (though briefly taking a break to go downstairs to order room service since my phone wasn't working).
After about four hours of sleep, I was ready to get back to the excitement of the airport. As I checked out, I overheard someone say that the other hotel shuttle had gotten stuck in mud the night before and had to be pulled out. Needless to say, that driver was also traumatized.
Well, to make a long story just a bit shorter (not much), I had another flight cancelled, went through four gate changes, got "disqualified" for standby on another flight (since I had a carry on, and the plane was already over weight), & got motion sick in the plane (that never happens to me).
Well, the point of this story is that I have never been so happy to see my husband before, and my birthday is now complete. The end.
Due to bad weather, DFW airport closed up shop last night (they pulled out the cots and everything). As a result, AA (American Airlines, not Alcoholics Anonymous)got me a "deal" at the Hotel Elegante Formal (I'm not making up the name--that's really what it's called). Well, it was raining so hard that it took the driver 45 minutes to pick us up at the airport, and then we began the long trek back to the hotel.
Since we were experiencing a major downpour/lightning storm, there was about zero visibility. Accordingly, the driver took it slow at 35 mph. Every once in a while, we noticed the van meandering back and forth across the road. This swaying action was accompanied by an incoherent high pitched squeal from the driver. The poor guy had a death grip on the wheel. At this point, one of my stranger-friends-in-crisis in the shuttle offered to start passing out meds to the other passengers. We all laughed nervously as we plodded along to the outer reaches of Dallas. The same aforementioned stranger-friend-in-crisis then remarked on how excited she was to see all the adult entertainment venues in that particular neighborhood. Luckily, just minutes later, we pulled up to our hotel. I gave the poor driver a tip and said, "Good driving!" As I entered the hotel, I noticed a huge stone slab with the ten commandments engraven upon it (my guesss was that it was intended to combat the evils of the neighborhood).
The hotel was surprisingly nice and comfortable, so much so, in fact, that I stayed up until the wee hours watching Little People Big World and the like (though briefly taking a break to go downstairs to order room service since my phone wasn't working).
After about four hours of sleep, I was ready to get back to the excitement of the airport. As I checked out, I overheard someone say that the other hotel shuttle had gotten stuck in mud the night before and had to be pulled out. Needless to say, that driver was also traumatized.
Well, to make a long story just a bit shorter (not much), I had another flight cancelled, went through four gate changes, got "disqualified" for standby on another flight (since I had a carry on, and the plane was already over weight), & got motion sick in the plane (that never happens to me).
Well, the point of this story is that I have never been so happy to see my husband before, and my birthday is now complete. The end.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Hello from Utah!
I've spent a few days with my family in Utah to celebrate my birthday and have had a great time. There's something to be said for having your mom take care of you and cater to your every whim!! Thanks, Mom! (She even bought all my favorite foods, made me a sack lunch one day, and waited around for a couple hours while I went to the family history library--now that's love)!
I went to a genealogy conference in Provo, had lunch with my awesome sister-in-law, Courtney, attended stake conference with my parents, visited with my and Jeff's family, and had a yummy spaghetti dinner and apple crisp last night. One of the highlights was a girls' sleepover on Friday at a hotel in Lehi with Mom, Erika, Ashley, and my nieces, Libby, Abby, & Kally. The one bad thing (other than Jeff not being here) was missing my sister, Lindsey. She'll be in Utah in a few days for a wedding, but since I'm going back to Mississippi today, we won't see each other.
Here are couple of pictures. Thanks, everyone (especially Mom and Dad) for an awesome trip!
I went to a genealogy conference in Provo, had lunch with my awesome sister-in-law, Courtney, attended stake conference with my parents, visited with my and Jeff's family, and had a yummy spaghetti dinner and apple crisp last night. One of the highlights was a girls' sleepover on Friday at a hotel in Lehi with Mom, Erika, Ashley, and my nieces, Libby, Abby, & Kally. The one bad thing (other than Jeff not being here) was missing my sister, Lindsey. She'll be in Utah in a few days for a wedding, but since I'm going back to Mississippi today, we won't see each other.
Here are couple of pictures. Thanks, everyone (especially Mom and Dad) for an awesome trip!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
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