Memorial Day Weekend

My Memorial Day Weekend got started a little early thanks to a doctors appointment I had on Friday. Love how those things work out.

Thursday evening after I saved a life, I went to a Hog Roast on campus for some students. On the way there a bird pooped on my head! I was just talking to some students the other day about how it's weird that this doesn't happen more often. I spoke too soon! Thankfully Jill was able to wipe it out. Yes, I took a shower as soon as I got home.

It doesn't look like much, but that's cause most of it was on my hand from touching it in hopes it was a large rain drop.

Since I had to be back home for my doctor appointment early on Friday, I went home Thursday night. I talked to my bestie on the way home and after I got home I fell asleep right after I got off the phone with her. My family didn't even know I was home because I never came in and told them I was there, just went straight to my room.

Dad's high school was on the news! For a wrongful rape conviction, but still on the news!

Since I was already back home and it was pointless to drive back to Columbus to drive back home, I took the whole day off and volunteered at my mom's school field day. It felt good to be 'in charge' and be able to practice my assertiveness with the kids. Although I didn't really have to because they were good. I helped out in the kindergarten room. Adorbs!

During field day I got to play t-ball, where I get an awesome home run over everyone's head. Yes, I know the class is 5-6 year olds, but I really hit that ball far! And no one caught me! :) Pathetic, I agree. We also had a water ball fight, where I did get hit once or twice. I was also told I was a 'hot babe' by a second grader. Thanks bud for the confidence boost!

Recess duty/getting a tan!

Friday night Tyler and I went fishing at my grandparents and then my grandpa asked for a technology lesson. So I explained my iPhone to him, as well as Facebook, blogging and google. Those things are hard to explain to someone who has never been on the internet.

Hanging out on the back porch at Mam and Papaw's. Lovely evening.

I took this picture of Tyler to send to him to demonstrate what a text message was to my grandpa.

We stopped at the good ole local Walmart on the way home. Tyler needed something, but what we really found were these treasurers:

Perfect shirt for fishing.

I don't know which one I should get Dad for his birthday! And let's be clear, these are silky, not cotton! Only the best for when you want to look like a McDonald's advertisement.

Saturday morning started out around 7am when I heard our house phone ring and then my mom quickly ran into my room to tell me my dad needed my assistance in a missing child case in our town. I quickly dressed and headed out to meet him on the other side of town. A two year old had gone missing in the middle of the night and the fire departments, EMTs and sheriff deputies were out and about looking for him. Dad and I were at the 'command post' (which was basically just my car) and he and his lt. chief were directing volunteers on where to go. I was recording the names and arrival times of all of the volunteer searchers and also kind of serving as traffic control - telling passers by what was going on, telling people where to park, giving updates, etc. I was also there in case in media called. It was a little hectic for a while, but I am happy to say the little boy was found safely. I was really worried when they were giving directions to volunteers about checking a ravine behind his house. :(

This was my first missing child case, but I also hope it is my last. Although through this experience I re-realized that I do an ok job of handling things is high stress situations like that (where I'm not directly involved, of course). I mean, I do come from a line of fire chiefs in my family. :)

Saturday morning I had planned a little luncheon for my best friends from when I was younger and our Mom's. Our mom's were friends before we were born and we all lived side by side growing up. The three daughters are friends too! :) We were in Girl Scouts together and played at each other's houses growing up. Erin was in Dawn's wedding three years ago and Dawn and I were both in Erin's wedding two years ago. We spent so much time together those two summers and I just love them and their Mom's. Then last year we didn't have any bridal showers or events to be together and we kind of quit seeing each other so much. So back in December, I think I tried to organize something around the holiday's but it was too hard with everyone's busy schedule, so we finally got something on the calendar for this weekend.

We met at Bob Evan's and just had a nice little lunch with lots of laughing and giggling. :)

Can you guess who belongs to who?

Saturday afternoon I took the longest nap in the history of naps. I seriously was asleep more on Saturday than I was awake. I attempted to run, but it was just too dang hot (90+) and Mom, Dad and I went to Ritchie's for pizza and margaritas. Note: I do not like the regular margaritas. They have to be berry flavored.

Sunday morning Dad, Tyler and I visited the cemeteries where my grandparents and family members are buried. We have done this the last three years and I enjoy this time we spend together. Dad and I are both emotional people, so there are lots of tears involved. :)

Our first stop was at the cemetery in my town where Dad's cousin is buried, along with just a lot of people I knew from my hometown. I find it really calming to walk up and down the rows and come upon someone I knew and maybe had forgotten about and think of good memories of them.

Then we went on to the cemetery where my Grandma and Grandpa Wickham are buried. It's a little bit of a drive from our house and I remember it being sooooooo far away when I was young and we would go with dad to put the Fire Department flags on the graves. It was always cold and foggy when we did that back then. This year (and last year) it was super hot!

Proud of my Veteran grandpa. Three wars!

We also went to visit my Great-Grandma Primer's grave, along with all of her family. This is the second time I've visited her grave. It still just doesn't seem like she has been gone for two years and it is so weird to think she would be 102 years old now! That doesn't even seem possible.

Sunday afternoon we worked in the yard, played with Posey, planted grass seed, went to Walmart (it's an entertainment thing in Pike County), put out mulch, I went to Piketon's graduation and then went to Mam and Papaw's to set the trot line. I wanted to run since I've been slacking on that, but instead Tyler wanted to do the Deck of Cards workout. So we went down to our track and did that. I'm not a huge sweater, but I have never sweat so much in my life. Most of the workout was done after dark too, since we didn't even start until after 9. So that was kind of cool (as in working out by the moonlight because it was definitely not cool temperature wise!).

I thought about running the hurdles while I was there, but I figured I needed to walk this week.

I was resting while I could.

The iPhone obviously takes horrible pictures after dark, but this is of my puddle of sweat on the blacktop. You could see it even in the dark.

Both Sunday and Monday nights I slept in Molly's bed and let Posey sleep with me. If you had told me a year or two ago that I would be sharing my bed with a dog I'd say you were crazy. If you'd told me that my parents would have a dog in the house I'd say you were absolutely insane! Both things have happened! ha. I'm sure Posey is similar to a baby sleeping in bed with you, as she rules the roost. She laid the width of the bed while I clung to the edge. Then she moved about halfway down to have the entire width, so I slept in a ball on the top half of the bed. If she wasn't so darn cute I would never allow it. But when she wakes up in the morning she's just so excited to see me even though I've been right there beside her the entire night!

 Monday we went to Mam and Papaw's for our annual Memorial Day Cookout. It was 1 billion degrees outside. I had planned to run in the Scott Porter 5K in Waverly, but it was just too dang hot. We got out fish off our trotline and made ice cream. Kate's boyfriend, Doug, also helped me wash my car and then we washed Kate's, Tyler's and Molly's too. They each helped on their own vehicle. My car looked really pretty til we had the pop up shower this morning. Now it's all dirty again. Urg.

Caught one!

Tyler washing off his truck.

Sunday evening Tyler and I visited with some family friends at their house and then I drove back late. I tried to talk to Lauren on my drive, but wouldn't you know our cell phones kept cutting out and we neither one could get our very important stories out! A girls weekend is very much needed in the near future!

Just Fishin'

My brother has always loved to go fishing and we're lucky that our grandparents have a pond that is pretty accessible to fish. Ty and his friends always used to go there and fish and I did when we were weeee little, but haven't been in a long time.

Friday night Tyler wanted to go up and try to catch this fish that he had seen back in early April when he was fishing on Easter. We sat there for about 45 minutes constantly casting and reeling in. Not fly-fishing, but supposedly this technique you use to catch bass. Who knew there were special techniques? Not I.

Could you have a prettier site? Pond, fields, woods, and the sunset?

We weren't having any luck catching anything, so Tyler got out this "Magic Bait." It's 'chicken liver' but it is in liquid form. He said it's basically the doe urine of fishing. And it stinks.

After we were unsuccessful Friday night, Tyler got a trot line and chicken livers (real) to do Sunday night. We went back to Mam & Papaw's and I helped set my first trot line. I did not know what a trot line was until Sunday, but the I understand the concept and it makes perfect sense.

Thankful for a brother than baited these hooks, although I probably would have helped had I known he was doing it.

Stretching the line out around the pond. 

Baiting

Weighted so it will fall to the bottom.  

Proof I hooked some and didn't just take pictures.

This was stretched so tight that I though for sure it was going to pull me in!

And it's set!

The next morning, we went to Mam's for our Memorial Day cookout. As soon as we got there we went up to see if we had caught anything. Out of 15 hooks, we had one catfish, but it was a big one.

Proud of our catch.

Big Fish

Poor thing weighed about 15 pounds and he/she was just hanging by a lip ring!

Glad Tyler was there to deal with the hook.

At least two feet long.

Big ol' fish!

Tyler and our catch. 

So he still didn't get this bass fish he was wanting, but I think this was a pretty good catch. He also caught a few smaller fish on his own yesterday afternoon and we also sat a bottle hook or something like that. It's basically a line with a hook tied to an empty bottle that floats on the pond. Nothing was on it yesterday, so I don't know if he left it or not.

Thanks brother for inviting me fishing this weekend! We will have to go again soon.

Saving Lives

I have always been a scaredy cat. Pretty proud of it too. I was afraid of needles, anything to do with medicine or surgery or being sick. 

Giving blood was something that I never thought I would do. Ever.

With the combination of needles, blood and the possibility of passing out just scared me to death. But last year when I made my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days, I added "donate blood" to that list and figured it would be something that probably wouldn't actually happen. ha.

Well, I've realized a lot in the last couple months that I'm missing out on a lot in life by being scared, afraid and worried about outcomes and I should just do it. Just live in the moment. Just do what I want to do because I can.

So last week when I got an email about a blood drive being done in my office building, I signed up.  And I didn't sleep hardly at all the night before.

Just a little over a year ago I had to have blood drawn for medical reasons (I thought I had blood sugar issues - I didn't) and I literally cried all week before I had to go. And my dad had to take me. I cried. And they put me in the room with all of the cartoon posters for kids. I was THAT person. 

Tyler has had to go with me to get shots and Tb tests before. My pathetic-ness was just that, pathetic.

So why was I so scared? Well, when I was 16 I volunteered at a blood drive hosted by my high school student council. I was all excited and they assigned me to be a 'runner' (I took the blood from the patient/nurse to the table for processing). Well wouldn't you know the very first person I helped at my very first blood drive had a seizure, wet her pants and had to be taken out in the ambulance. 

Not exactly the best first impression of what giving blood is like. So from then on I only worked at the registration desk and never once thought about giving blood myself.

And I'm proud to say that today I donated blood. I seriously never thought I would ever do this.

All ready to go!

My arm before any pokes.

My nurse lady said I had amazing veins for donating blood. Her exact words were "That vein is so big a blind man could put a needle in it!" Umm, thanks?

All prepped and ready to go.

Saving babies.

That's my blood! I filled everything really quickly. She was amazed since I'm kind of small and a first time giver.

Adam was done before I started, so he took a picture. I was so proud of myself. :)

It didn't take long AT ALL for me to actually pump the blood. I was a blood donating rock star!

And then when I was all done and super proud of myself, I got really hot, sweaty and they had to lay be down with a fan and wet rags. Yep, I was THAT person.

Making blood flow with my feet propped up.

I had to lay there for about a half hour because I was so pale/frail.

I played lots of games of Scramble with Friends while pumping and recovering. Can you believe "OSU" didn't count as a word?

I didn't eat lunch before donating (MISTAKE!) so I ate about 22 pieces of Danato's pizza after I was done! Best lunch ever!

All bandaged up!

Overall it was a good experience. I will do it again someday. I don't know about every 8 weeks, but I will definitely do it again. I mean, I'm helping save lives!

Five Question Friday - 5.25.2012

1. Are you a napper?
Normally I would say no, but I have found myself taking a lot of afternoon naps on the weekends. I don't know why I am so tired. I go to bed so early during the week. Maybe it's all the running I'm doing these days. Yeah, we'll just say it's the running.


2. What was your favorite subject in school? Most hated?
I loved social studies and American History. I hated English until I was in the 8th grade (thanks Mrs. Howard!) and then I loved it. I did not care for math or sciences. And of course I loved my typing, computer and art classes.

3. Did you have the something old new borrowed and blue at your wedding? What were they?
Not applicable.


4. What one thing are you determined to do this summer.
Just have a blast and do as many fun things as I possibly can fit into the next three months!


5. Ice cream or Popsicles?
Can I saw both? Because I would totally take whatever was put in front of me! :)

She Showed 'Em!

So the types of people that attended my small town high school graduation are a little bit different than the kind of people that attend my cousin's graduation. Heck, the people that attend the schools are completely different. ( Small Town USA vs. Suburbs)

So when I graduated, way back in 2003, there were quite a few characters people who my aunt, uncle and cousins have always remembered. And we kind of laugh about it every now and then. You know, the kind that have to get up and rush home to start the party as soon as their child graduates, even though he was in the "B's" and everyone else is trying to watch still or they make funny comments about names, etc.

One of the most memorable moments during mine (or was it Molly or Tyler's?) was when one family yelled to their son who was graduating "YOU SHOW 'EM HOW TO GRADUATE!!!"

How exactly does one "show 'em how to graduate?" How to walk across the stage? Accept the diploma? Smile for the photographer? ha. It's kind of became a running joke in our family.

Well last night my little cousin "showed 'em". I honestly think her name was spoken more than anyone else there and she stood up more times to be recognized for academic and artistic honors than anyone else in her graduating class of 418ish people. Yay Lauren!

Aunt, Cousin, Uncle

With Mam

With Mam and Papaw

With Cousins and Uncle Randy

Me and the graduate. (Side note, I think it's time to do something drastic with my hair. I'm not loving it anymore!)

Congrats Lauren! I wish you all the best as you begin college in the fall! I sure will miss having your football games and band concerts to attend in the evenings!

Celebration Time!

My youngest cousin Lauren is graduating high school in just a few days.

Since I moved to the Columbus area 9 years ago, my Aunt and Uncle and their girls have been my second family, my home away from home. I just love them and am so thankful for everything they have done and continue to do for me even though I'm not their daughter - like letting me chill at their house all of the time. :)

I can't believe she's 18 and graduating. I have gotten to attend a lot of her basketball and soccer games while living near by and most recently almost all of her band recitals and football games. I'm going to miss having those things to do next year. Hopefully my aunt and uncle will still go and invite me along! ;)

So Lauren is graduating and that means we have to celebrate with a little par-tay!

Our Mam and Papaw with Kate and Lauren. I don't know why they never smile.

Amy's family with Mam and Papaw.

The Ferguson side of the family that was at the party. My dad had to work and Tyler was at a soccer tourney.

She's all grown up. And taller than me.

Me and Kate.

girl cousins

Sorority girl pose. :)

Lauren's family.

Sisters :)

Hilliard sisters :)

Lauren and her cupcakes

Wildcats and Bearcats