Around Here

So, things have been pretty mundane around here. I mean it is August in Alabama so anything that doesn't involve sitting inside in the air conditioning is pretty much off-limits right now. I mean seriously if I go outside, I can feel my appendages starting to drip and it isn't from the sweat, it is because I am melting. Seriously, being made of sugar is not good in the South.

No for real, I know it is hot but it is also a widely known fact that we live in the South where it is cool for approximately 2 months of the year. It is known, so I am choosing the suffering by staying here, so I can't complain. Even though I do, but I am done because I do realize that I have control of the climate I choose. For me, I can stand the heat in order to have sweet tea, casseroles, seer sucker, boots, camo and a cute Southern drawl. Not to mention Mint Juleps on the wrap around porch every afternoon to beat the heat while walking around everywhere without shoes. (Ok, not really, but I thought I would throw that in there for those of you who have never visited these parts.)

Needless to say, things have been pretty low-key and we haven't really gotten out of the house much. I stay in as much as I can and am still trying to get things put away while still keeping up with the daily demands of a house. It is working out pretty well so far. Today is Emory's Friday, so we are looking forward to a long weekend together! It should be fun, and a lot of time spent indoors!

Happy Thursday! Have a great one and stay cool!

"Everyone here is so nice!" (Well, almost)

Well, it is Wednesday in the beginning of June in Alabama and it is HOT. Yesterday at lunch, my car read 97 degrees. Whew, it is going to be a hot summer!!

Anyway, that isn't really why I am writing, I just had to mention it. So, my mom and her best friend take a "girls trip" to Destin every year and stop through and spend one night with me on their way. Well, they will be here tonight, so last night I wanted to clean up a little bit (moms always seem to have on a white glove) not that my house was dirty or anything, after the deep cleaning I did a couple of weeks ago, but there was some laundry that needed to be put away and with a dog, I have to vacuum almost daily! I decided to run to the grocery to pick up a few things that I don't normally have but that they might like.

While I was there, I saw this older lady looking on the ground around and under her car. Now she wasn't old as in decrepit but she wasn't in her 20's either and probably shouldn't have been down on the oil stained concrete under her car. I noticed a few people passed and looked at her probably thinking "What is she doing?" So, when I got out of my car, I decided to ask. Don't forget I had been cleaning, so I looked a little crazy with yellow pj pants, an old t-shirt from college, my TOMS shoes (if you haven't heard of them, go there NOW), and a Coach purse. HAHA I looked all kinda crazy I am sure. Anyway, when I asked her if she needed help, she was hesitant to ask me for help, but proceeded to tell me that she had locked herself out of her car and was looking for the spare key that her husband had hidden under there. I said, well normally they are under the wheel well, she had no clue what I was talking about, so I showed her where I was talking about. We couldn't find it. She was from out of town (Virginia was where her tag was from). So, she said, do you happen to have a cell phone that I can call my husband and see exactly where he put it? I said sure and gladly handed over my Blackberry. She was very worried to use it because she was dirty from the ground, but mostly because it was long-distance! I said, ma'am, I have nationwide calling, nothing is long distance, it is really ok. So, finally, I convinced her to call him and went to get a flashlight out of my car (it was about 7 pm). While she was calling him I got under the car (mostly so she wouldn't do it again) and her husband walked her through the directions of where the spare key was hidden. We finally found it way under there. Anyway, we got her key and she got into her car and on her way. She was so thankful for my help, and another lady even stopped to help by giving the number of a locksmith. She wanted to pay me for my phone call, which of course didn't cost me anything. She said "Everyone here is so nice!" I assume she meant everyone in town, maybe she meant people in the South.

I couldn't help but think to myself what I had observed: There were at least 4 men who walked right passed us and looked but kept walking. WOW! Now, I must have been raised completely differently than these guys because any man I know would have NEVER walked passed two women dirty and on the ground under a car without offering to help! But, they did an I was shocked! Once she was gone, I went into the grocery store to pick up the things I came for, this time in the same outfit covered in black stuff from her car and the ground. A man that had passed us saw me and asked if everything was ok. I was a little irritated at his question, but said yes, just fine now, she had locked her keys in the car and I was helping her get her spare. He seemed shocked and almost appalled that I had helped . I said, someone had to help her, it sure wouldn't have been you. He looked a little stung, but I don't mind. So, it is a good lesson to learn I guess. You never know when you will need someone else's help. It is sad that of all of the store patrons and workers only 2 of us asked to help the lady (and we were both women). So I have to question: Are people here really all that nice?

Did we skip Spring?

I have lived in the South (in different parts of Alabama) my whole life! Now, don't get me wrong, I am a summer kind of girl, but seriously? It is HOT already and it is only April. Yes, that's right APRIL, not AUGUST! If it is this hot now, I can only imagine what it is going to be like in the summer! I was not expecting to have the heat this early, but it is here and it seems as if it is here to stay.

Anyway, despite the already climbing temperatures, I went to a baseball game last night. And I must say, the weather was perfect. I have always liked baseball, but sometimes it can drag on. The point of me mentioning the baseball game was not for me to tell you about the weather or the length of the sport, but to question the choosing of some of the team's mascots. Ours is the Biscuits. Yes, the Biscuits, as in the stable carb for a Southern breakfast table. He even has butter as a tongue and his name is Monty. I think every time I go to a game, I question where this came from and find it so funny. You may not get the humor until you go to a game and see these "Biscuits" everywhere. At my first game, they even threw them out to the crowd.


The mascot is even this ant eater looking thing named Moe the Biscuit Eater. Yes, I am serious. So, today I have been wondering why in the world would you ever do this to a team of professional athletes, not to mention the city that hosts them? Well, today I found my answer. Blame Mr. Tripp Vickers who entered the name "Montgomery Biscuits" into a naming contest and was chosen! He even went so far as to say that the name Biscuits would be a good choice because "It’s playful and fun, plus who doesn’t like Biscuits? All Alabamians like ‘em." You just want to say, Yeah, we like them on the breakfast table, but not on the baseball field. Come on!

Well, sorry about my rant on the Montgomery Biscuits. They are a great team, and have done well in the 6 seasons they have been in Montgomery. They were even named Southern League Champions two years in a row. At least their colors are good. (Blue and Gold)