I am in Gatlinburg on my mini vacation. It’s the tail end of all the festivities. and I have had an incredible time. I’m tired, but in a good way.
Tonight I went to a micro brewery with my brother in law and my dear quasi little brother Erik. We had an incredible time… I had their sampler and oh my… I tried 10 different beers and they were pretty tasty. Lovely time and somewhat surreal to hang with my broinlaw.
Smoky Mountain Brewery
Afterward, Erik and I hung out on my stoop at the hotel. We talked about life and love and all the awkwardness that ensues. We caught up on family tales and embarrassing stories and generally had a wonderful time.
Shootin the breeze
Now I am crashing, tomorrow I will spend the day with Donita and Amelia and Robert some more. It’s going to be great.
I was reminded tonight while visiting with Erik about how some things never change and some people will always be who they are. And sometimes I think that’s a great thing.
kicking it on the stoop
I had an amazing birthday day. It was full of friends and family.
The family UT cake. LOL
Friday Night I went out with a group to Mulligans a friendly downtown Nashville Irish Pub. Afterward we went to Red Door Mid Town, more of a college bar type setting. And then finished the night at White Castle. Classy I know.
Ebits and I after the Irish Car Bomb
I only thought to snap one picture…which is probably a good thing… I don’t need any evidence. Ha.
Saturday I woke up after about 2 hours of sleep… yep. I WAS reliving my youth for a night and paying for my age the next day. And went to a great Bridal “Tea” with Elizabeth. We painted pottery at Brushfire after grabbing lunch and mimosa’s at Whole Foods. Ebits and I then went to shop a little with her matron of honor Jen and then we purchased the wine and beer for the wedding at Frugal McDoogals. We ended the day at Mellow Mushroom (very tasty for a first time) and of course Starbucks.
Ebits and her very cute wedding plate
Sunday I was able to hang out with my friend Leland a couple of times and then I had a wonderful family dinner at Demos’ in Hendersonville with a delish vegan gfree chocolate cake. We always celebrate as a big group. De an I have our birthday the 12th, Donita’s is the 16th and Dad’s is the 19th. All within a week. Afterwards I went to my friend Laura’s house and we watched a movie after making dinner.
Trying on Amelia's jewlery
Monday was Deidre Day, I am after all a twin and the nice thing about that is you’re never alone on your birthday. We grabbed lunch at Tricia’s on the Square and went by Crossroads where she picked up a few cd’s. We ended the day with pops sharing popcorn for dinner and watching Eclipse.
Eating with De
Great birthday weekend… Now to recover….
We all know that I’m not perfect. In fact I commonly fall on my face, make weird noises and laugh oddly. Last night my dad said something that is still processing itself.
Growing up when we went of vacations with my sweet Dad a majority of them were camping adventures. We hiked, slept in a tent and cooked outside for a week at a time. The mountains are Dads chosen time and his idea of the best vacation. There was a hiking trip that now lives on in retold stories. My younger sister did NOT want to hike at that moment and was vocally telling everyone. Before we know it she has picked up a rock and launched it at dad’s head. Once it makes contact she takes off in the other direction realizing her mistake. But not before we see dad reach down and launch a rock (that was in no danger of hitting any person) in her direction and we hear Deidre screaming, “I want to hike, I’ll hike Daddy” at the top of her lungs. It’s been a funny antidote since…. Well after the smoke cleared.
Now speed forward to last night. I have family dinner night every Tuesday with Dad and Deidre and we cook and watch Biggest Looser. We have decided recently to start doing something active before then, well frankly because we all need to. Last night I was TIRED, and GRUMPY… probably beyond grumpy and decided that someone needed to know it. Unfortunately that someone was Dad and even though I could feel myself doing it, I rained on everyone’s parade. Later after I got over myself and stepped off my high horse I sorta apologized to Dad. To which he responded…
At least you didn’t throw rocks at my head… well not real ones anyway. That statement hit me in the face.
I sucked all the fun out of the evening. I was hateful and spiteful and I’m not proud of it. I use to be that way all the time. If I wasn’t happy, no one should be. But I’m better than that. May I be more aware of throwing verbal stones at others… They hurt even more.
I was working away in the office yesterday afternoon. It had been a looooooong day and I was tired. Had met my super awesome workout friend at 4am (yep we ARE crazy) and then I heard the shoes. My little sister has squeaky shoes that I have missed hearing come down the hall since we finished out bootcamp this week. No worries we start back on Monday. But I heard her coming down the hall and then I had the best afternoon pickup EVER
Dad and De had been to R’gate to complete some auto maint on his orange box. Luckily they love me and decided to treat me to GREAT coffee or my personal summer favorite – Iced Chai. I’m a spoiled girl and that fact was evident once they entered my favorite bux. The barista’s behind the counter new what I drank and even included a note on my cup.
Let’s just admit for a moment that I’m a lucky lucky girl. Thanks everyone, you made my day brighter.
My little sister Deidre… okay she’s only 5 minutes younger… but still that technically means she is my little sister. She is the better twin, the kinder, more thoughtful and silly sister. Of course that doesn’t mean that we don’t know the exact buttons to push on the other. We can go from giggling to fightingdisagreeing in -.2 seconds. But that is the relationship of sister right?
Deidre works proudly at Pizza Hut where she washes dishes, speaks to everyone by name and delights the regular customers. She has been there over 5 years. I wish I could teach people to be as proud of their job as she is of hers.
She has a knack for numbers that is beyond impressive. I remember growing up we went camping each summer, she had an impressive catalogue of different campsite numbers from years and sites previous. My older sis and cousin and I would love to ask her to recite them, I assume they were correct… I don’t have that gift.
Deidre has a killer woody woodpeckers impression and whenever we are driving she will randomly share it with me. We then both dissolve into giggles. She also debuted her “Elmer Fudge” impression recently.
Deidre loves any special event and it becomes exactly that. A special event. For Christmas she received season tickets to TPAC for the Broadway series. We made a night of the most recent show, and had dinner at her favorite place, Demos and then went by LifeWay and then walked around the plaza downtown before going down to the show.
I wish I had her enthusiasim for the fun things. I wish I had her sense of adventure. I am learning.
My Father LOVES groundhog day, as in it’s his favorite holiday. A number of years ago we went and watched the Bill Murray movie “Groundhog Day” at the now turned office space, Fountain Square. I remember dad loving the concept of doing something until you got it right.
This year Dad had help celebrating the holiday, he brougt Phil to the office and via texts and twitter we shared with the world how Phils day went after the celebration. It was, incredible. Dad isn’t the most technical person and he doesn’t even own a cell phone that texts much less picture texts, but he orchestrated this whole thing where every little bit I would get a picture via text from my cousin and then Dad would call me and tell me the caption I needed to use and post it to twitter. He had the best time, Phil was pooped by the end of the day and my phone was dead.
We’re already planning next years road trip with Phil… it’s gonna be spectacular.
Home and it’s been a long day, and at the same time it’s been a great time. My dad, Deidre and I have Tuesday night dinners together and honestly it’s wonderful. Occasionally I get to cook and clean up for someone other than me and then we watch the biggest looser together.
My day often starts at 3:30am and on these nights it doesn’t end until much too late to get a decent amount of sleep and it’s all worth it. After work I have been going back to the gym to get more cardio in and then heading over to pops to cook dinner. I think some sort of family dinner is a mainstay in my life. Growing up it was manditory, in college I found family with various groups and would often sit and share a meal with them. And now it’s back to the original, we look different and we aren’t fighting over who sits where and I’m no longer made to eat peas (yuck) our sourkraut (yeesh) and no longer am I made to put meat on my pasta… (thank you vegetarianism) but it’s home.
And regardless, if I remain here or eventually move again (not planning too anytime soon people, but it could happen) I think hope that family dinner’s will remain in my life. There is something comfortable about sitting and sharing a meal together and for a little while calling a group of people home.
