Fast Cars and Freedom

Last weekend was spent enjoying Fast Cars and Freedom. The Fast Cars were the 43 cars and drivers of the Pep Boys 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Freedom was 1) we were free from the kids for a couple days and 2) we stayed "free" by not getting arrested for stalking or harrassment.

We kicked off our weekend of fun Saturday night at Cousin Jeff's in the ATL, the dirty south, HOT-lanta, in the OTP. The city has lots of names and it is one of my favorites!! C. Jeff really wanted to watch the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas game and was able to purchase it through pay-per-view. Sadly, the broadcast was in lo-def television with color commentators, Bert and Ernie and the sound was by the Burger King. The Ole Miss Rebs posted a victory but trust me, it wasn't pretty. Then, off to bed, where I tried to sleep but as they say in the Disney commerical "I'm too excited to sleep!!!"

Sunday. October 26th, is a day I will never forget....it was my first time to visit pit road while at a NASCAR race. I am now officially one degree from Jeff Gordon. I met a guy named Jeff who works for DuPont and does the official pit tours for Jeff Gordon, and he knows Jeff Gordon, so therefore, I am one degree away.

Cousin Jeff asked me to pose with him. I was picking on him on Saturday night because everyone in our family has a picture on the scrolling digital photo frame in his living room except for me. He said "That's because my favorite picture of you is not very flattering." And then he showed me his fav pic and I said "You're right, it is not very flattering, but it is funny and is a great memory." So we took the above pic so that I could make it into the scrolling digital picture frame.

We got to meet a friend of Terri's from high school named Tom. He is the gas can man for the #18 Kyle Busch M&M's car. He was so nice and it was really cool to hear his inside scoop. He even promised us that Kyle is a nice guy.

Then the best thing of all happened. No, Terri and I did not get to meet Jeff Gordon or Kasey Kahne, but we ended up with a sweet spot to watch the cars roll through inspection. We were literally inches away from the cars as they rolled by us. Oh yeah - I am as close to Jeff Gordon's car as it looks in the picture!!! We talked to pit crew guys. We joked with pit crew guys. We even made friends with the security guard. He gave Terri and I a little to much "crowd power" and Terri and I almost ended up in a chick fight. I'm sure that we could have taken the girl. "Do you work here?" she asked with a sneer. "Yes, according to Mr. SEH-KERR-ITY, we do!!!"

There is no way I can tell you how much fun we had this weekend. It was a new experience. There are so many inside jokes that none of you would get. Here are just a few to ponder:

1. The Tony Stewart Lady

2. Nick - Show me your rock star face!

3. Super Sorry about 12th place, Kyle!

4. The explosion of red car window paint onto C. Jeff's garage floor. Great, now we've lost our deposit.

5. We learned a new song "Country Bumpkin" by Cal Smith. If you are ever in the mood for a laugh, look that one up and play it LOUD!!

Be sure to jump over to http://www.fourbetterorworse.blogspot.com/ for Terri's review of the race.

Congratulations to Carl Edwards on the win. I've seen the victory flip live twice now. I'm over it. I'm ready for Jeff Gordon to win!!!!

Melissa

Summertime

It may be 65 degrees in TN, but it feels like Summertime in Orange Beach, AL. We had a fabulous fall break and none of us wanted to come home. Here is a pic of the whole gang!


Here are some high-lights of the trip:

On the way to Orange Beach, Reid discovered mile marker signs on the side on the interstate. Now, you have to realize that we left at 4 pm and this was around mile marker 134 so it was around 9 pm and we've been in the car a little over 5 hours when this coversation started.

R: 1-3-4, what does that mean?

M: It means that we are on mile 134 in Alabama.

R: 1-3-3, what does that mean?

M: It means we've driven 1 mile since number 134.

R: 1-3-2, what number to we have to go to?

M: 37

R: So if we are on 1-3-2....I mean 1-3-1, we just passed it, how much longer is that?

M: About 100 miles.

Ryan now chimes in to the conversation:

Ry: So, Reid, if we are traveling 70 miles per hour and we are starting at mile marker 1-3-1....

R: (Interrupting) Ah, Daddy, we just passed 1-3-0....

Ry: Okay, so if we are traveling 70 miles per hour and we are at mile marker 1-3-0 and we have to go to mile marker 37, how far are we and how long will it take?

I am now texting Kimberly & Mark, asking if I jump out of the math equation filled car, could they please pick me up on the interstate as they drive by. (They are about 2 hours behind us, but I'm willing to wait.)

We woke up on Thursday to a beautiful 82 degree day. Cabana Boy Ryan took the chairs and umbrellas down to the beach and had us all set up and ready to go. I get up to use all of my Pampered Chef kitchen tools that I brought to make fruit salsa. "Ryan - now I know why you bring Mel to the beach, she cooks" says Kimberly. Everyone awoke to the loudest oven timer sound that I've ever heard when the orange rolls I had popped into the oven were ready! Sorry, I did not know it was so loud! So after breakfast and coffee, we headed to the beach for a day of lounging! Kimberly mentions that she loves America because you can drive for 7 hours and wake up at the beach. I love America, too!!!

I had purchased some quality beach reading material - Cosmo, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and Rachael Ray's mag. While reading a Cosmo article late in the afternoon, I discovered that there are 3 things you should never discuss on your day off. They are: Your Job, Money, and Friend's Relationships. Well, beach gang, we just blew Thursday because we've discussed everyone of these topics and we threw in religion so we are just going to have to completely redo Thursday!

We discovered that going to the beach can actually improve your own self image even if you are a few pounds overweight. Have you seen what some women will put on (or not put on) and then walk around in public? There are many ladies out there who have on bikini's that have no business wearing a bikini. I may be overweight but my Land's End swimsuit covers everything that needs to be covered!

We officially snapped 1 beach chair on Thursday and discovered that one was toast - more on this later.

Friday we woke up to another beautiful 82 degree day and it was Collin's 18th birthday. We started the day with fresh beignets from Cafe Beignet and Starbucks. Props to Mark and Ryan! Reid starts telling Collin that we are taking him to the "ballerina" for Collin's birthday. (He meant ballet.) He kept saying this because we were taking Collin out for a special birthday dinner and to ride go-karts and in our family when you are trying to keep a secret, you insert "going to the ballet" for wherever you are going. This prompted a discussion of what male "ballerina's" are called. Collin was quick with his "They are ballerino's" answer and we all laughed. There is no way that male ballerina's are ballerino's but after a quick google search (thanks Kendall)....guess what....male ballerina's are ballerino's. Way to go, Collin! And Collin - did you say that you wanted a monkey card for your birthday???!!!???

Everyone headed to the beach after breakfast and presents except for Kimberly and I. We stayed back to bake a cake for Collin. We start getting out a bowl, pan, eggs, etc. but we can not find a mixer. We looked in every cabinet (we thought) and give up. Well, we decide we will just take turns hand mixing the cake batter. We start putting our ingredients into a bowl, and I open a drawer to find measuring cups. In the drawer were the beaters to a mixer. I pull them out of the drawer and say "if we have these, there's got to be a mixer". We open the one cabinet we did not open the first time and there sat the mixer. "Way to Go, Carolyn!" was shouted through the condo! We baked the cake, and headed down to the beach to lounge with everyone else.

When we got there, we were told that Collin had caught a fish....with his bare hands!! Yeah, right, really?!?!?!?!

We officially snapped beach chair number 2 on Friday! - Once again, more on this later.

We decided to eat cake before dinner but before we ate cake we decided that Reid and Mark were going to silly string Collin when he and Olivia came up from the beach. Let's just call it an ambush and say that the boys had way too much fun with the silly string!

We ate dinner at Cosmo's and it was fabulous!! I highly recommend it!! Kendall started falling asleep at dinner - this was because she had a busy day - surfing - not the ocean waves, the internet!! Thank goodness for condo 1016. But, we sure wish they would boost their internet signal! We had to save the "ballet" for Saturday night because we had a few showers on Friday evening.

Saturday was a little cool in the morning so the Johnson clan headed over to The Wharf to check out the shops. The Workman's went to Target. Can you tell the difference in our kids ages??? We spend the afternoon on the beach and officially snapped beach chair number 3. We either have to go home tomorrow or go buy more beach chairs. We are running LOW!!!

The Beach Chair Grave Yard - So you've heard me mention that we snapped a few beach chairs. Guess what Carolyn is getting for her next birthday. This was Ryan's beach chair snap. I'm not sure I can actually explain how funny this was! But trust me, it was funny, I don't care who you are!! "How can a beach chair snap while you are stilling completely still?" says Mark.

Saturday night we went to Lulu's for some awesome tuna dip, fried okra, crab melts, mahi mahi tacos and the best part......Krispy Kreme UnChristmas Bread Pudding. Oh, yeah, bread pudding with the Krispy Kreme donuts as the bread. I've died and gone to bread pudding heaven!!! While at Lulu's, Reid and I braved our way through the "BooLu" Haunted House. Reid rejoined the group telling everyone that Mom was totally freaked out!! I won't mention that I had to push him through the turns and twists of the haunted house. We sat around our table and all sang Margaritaville with the band and watched people who had consumed too many margaritas (not us) out on the dance floor. It was totally entertaining!!! Now, off to the ballet.....

One thing we always forget about going to the beach in the "off-season" is that stuff closes early. We got over to the go-kart track and it was closed but we did get in a few games of skee-ball before they kicked us out. Collin was able to win enough tickets to "buy" Olivia two rings! "Honey, how much did you pay for my ring?" "5 tickets, baby, nothing's too good for you!"

Sunday was a sad day for everyone....we had to pack up and head home. The Workman's had an interesting Waffle House adventure on the road....I'll share soon!

All in all, it was a great trip with wonderful weather, fabulous food, and even more fabulous friends! It is a Workman tradition to schedule our next trip to the beach before we leave the beach....so, 362 days and counting until we are heading back!!!

Melissa

Promises, Promises

Later this week, we are headed to Orange Beach, AL for Fall Break. Our friends, M, K, O and O's friend C are going with us. Reid is in love with O and thinks that he will marry her one day. This is the conversation I had with him regarding behavior at the condo.

You must know that Reid loves to be naked. Reid comes in from the beach, drops his wet swim suit in the bathroom floor and then streaks through the condo until I track him down and make him put on underwear.

You must also know that we are having this conversation in my bathroom and he is sitting on the toilet.

Reid: So when we are at the beach, do I have to sleep in pajama's or can I sleep in my boxers only?

Me: Well, I would prefer pajama's but boxers will be okay. And you may not for any reason run around the condo NAKED!!

Reid: What??? Why???

Me: Because we are having guests and our guests do not want to see you naked....

Reid: Ahhhhh, man....can I run around the condo in my boxers?

Me: No......

Reid: Ahhhhh, man....can I run around the condo in my pajama's?

Me: Yes, that's okay.

Reid: Good, then I promise to run around the condo in my pajama's and then I will take them off to go to sleep.

Me: Sounds like a plan!!

All I can say is "You make me Promises, Promises, I knew you'd never keep". I really pray that this is one promise that Reid decides to keep. I'll keep you posted!

Melissa

From Dixie With Love

Things I Loved From My Weekend at Ole Miss:

1. As we are packing the car to head from Memphis to Oxford early on Saturday morning - Kendall says "MOM...NOSEBLEED!!!!!" I turn around to find that yes, indeed, my 10 year old dressed in her Ole Miss game day finest (thanks, Limited Too!) has blood pouring out of her nose. I yell "Kendall, do not get blood on your outfit!" while Nurse Jenny grabs her nose and pinches it and gets the bleeding stopped. Thank goodness for Jenny!! And Kendall did not get any blood on her adorable outfit.

2. The baby car - Ryan asked us to drive his baby car since he and Reid were going 4-wheeling on Saturday and they would need my truck. Do you know how easy it is to find a parallel parking space when you only need enough space for a baby car???!!! Piece of cake!!!

3. A "Rebel Yell" (a.k.a. a shout out) to the Grove set up team. Bevill, you and your mom did such an amazing job with the food and the set up. The table was beautiful, the food was wonderful and the hospitality was like no other!! And Thank You to Jeff and Will who sat in the Grove on Friday afternoon to secure our awesome spot on the Walk of Champions.

4. The Walk of Champions - A couple of hours before the game, the Ole Miss football coaches and players walk through the Grove down the Walk of Champions over to the stadium. Hotty Toddy is hollered throughout the crowd. The band plays. Everyone gets pumped. Go Rebs!! Beat the Gamecocks!! And such can be heard all over the Grove. And the players keep their hands out so that everyone can give them a high five.

5. Kendall, Jenny and I did not have to open one door for ourselves. The gentlemen of Ole Miss did that for us. We also heard Yes Mam and You're Welcome come out of their mouths as we thanked them for opening the doors. Everyone loves a southern gentleman!! Especially when they are dressed in khakis, an oxford shirt and a tie!!

6. Cute shoes - while wearing my red, white and blue plaid platform heels seems like a really bad idea, when 40+ friends and total strangers tell you how cute your shoes are...it is totally worth the pain!

7. The beautiful October weather that we had. Thank You to God for providing us with the sunshine and that slight breeze that washed the smell of magnolias under your nose.

8. Kendall at her first SEC football game. As we walk into the stadium Kendall says "I have never seen so much red in all of my life." We hooped and hollered and cheered and high-fived and yelled Hotty Toddy. The new rule (since the cheer involves a few bad words) is that she/we can say the cheer only while in the stadium. She looked at me and said, "but Mom, I feel like such a bad girl when I say the cheer." It is okay Kendall, I promise! She also noticed a Rebels fan giving the Gamecocks fans "the finger" and says to me - "Mom, he must not know the golden rule, I'm sure he would not want to be treated like that!" So true, Kendall, so true!

9. That the end of every Ole Miss game, whether they win or lose, the band plays From Dixie With Love...and knowing that Jenny and I are sworn to play that song at Jeff's funeral. And then after From Dixie with Love, they put Elvis up on the brand new jumbo tron singing Glory, Glory Hallelujah! Name another school that plays Elvis on the jumbo tron!!!

10. I did not love this part but just as a side note - SC Gamecocks fans are NOT nice. They are sore losers, sore winners and just overall not a pleasant crowd.

11. While walking from the Grove back over to the car, some SC fans were running their mouth in their car while sitting in traffic. Jenny hollers out "Watch your mouth" so I say "What was that all about" and Jenny replies "Just some yankees from South Carolina!" You've got to be really grounded in the fact that you are in the south when you call people from SC, "yankees"!!

12. Taking Kendall over to the AOTT house. Jenny got choked up as she explained to Kendall that Kendall is a legacy because of Jenny's membership, and basically is a shoo-in for the sorority. They walked through the house, Jenny showed her where you eat dinner and where you wait for your dates to pick you up. Kendall even got to see Jenny's old room. All of the AOTT girls were so sweet to Kendall and she loved it!!!

13. But what I loved most, was the soft snoring of my baby girl as I turned onto Highway 7 to come home after a long day. This was my favorite part because the last time I left Ole Miss to come home, I bawled the whole way. Mainly because this was before I met Ryan, and before I had kids, and my life was a wreck. I didn't want to come home. I wanted to stay in Oxford, hide in my sister's room, and pretend I went to school there. But Saturday was different, this time, I knew that when I turned onto Highway 7, I had spent an awesome day with my sister, my sweet Kendall, Cousin Jeff, my Ole Miss friends who love and accept me just because I'm Jenny's sister and Jeff's cousin, and I was coming home to tell my sweet Ryan about what an incredible day Kendall and I just had.

Now...we just have to figure out how we are going to pay for out of state tuition...Ryan says "think scholarship"!!!

Hotty Toddy,
Melissa

Another One Bites the Dust

Actually, it is Another One ALMOST Bites the Dust! Several years ago, I dropped a brand new cell phone in a 24 oz. ice cold diet coke. Not only did I ruin my phone, but the diet coke exploded all over my fairly new truck and my outfit. I still have diet coke splashes on the roof of the truck.

This afternoon, while working over at the church, I made a pit stop at the restroom. When my pit stop was complete, I flushed and stood up. Then, much to my horror, my brand new, not even 3 week old, full keyboard, ENVY II cell phone falls out of my pocket and into the toilet! I immediately grab it, grab paper towels and start drying. Of course, the phone starts going crazy and calling Ryan - 'cause he's first in my contacts, of course!! I am literally sick at my stomach at this point. Good thing I'm still in the restroom! How am I going to tell Ryan that I've ruined another brand new phone???

So, if this ever happens to you....take the phone back over to your office where one of your bestest friends, SS, tells you to take the phone completely apart. Place all of the pieces (including the SIM card) in front of your desk heater and turn the heater on low. Let the warm air flow around and through the phone for approximately one hour. Then, viola, the phone returns to normal function!

I did have to confess to Ryan that the phone had an accident. He was okay with it, but he was not looking forward to purchasing a new phone and now, thanks to S's brillance, he does not have to!! I love you, girl!! And I owe you, big time!!

Melissa