Dollywood

I had really built Dollywood up in my mind to be much more than an amusement park. I pictured big blond wigs and big boobs everywhere, but I never saw any of that stuff. It is a really cool amusement park, and we had a great time, but it just wasn't what I had expected.

When we walked in the gates, the first thing I saw was a couple of potheads sitting on a bench. I live in California so I know a lot of potheads, but these two were unlike any I had ever seen before. I decided to sit down and see what they were all about. They were pretty cool, so we snapped a picture and took off.

After we left the potheads, I walked around the corner and saw giant veggies. At first I thought it was just me, but Riley assured me he saw them too. We decided to take a picture with them so I would have proof that they actually existed.

The rest of the day was spent doing all the usual stuff you would do at an amusement park, riding rides, eating a bunch of junk, and then trying to make my kid puke on the spinning rides. They had a ride there that was a smaller version of "Disneyland" teacups. Riley insisted that I spin that thing as hard and fast as I could. We were going so fast that all I could see were colors zooming by. My arms started getting tired, but Riley kept yelling "don't stop spinning". Ok, anything for the kid. When we got off, Riley got green and I thought for sure he was going to blow chunks right there all over the ride operator. I was getting ready to make a run for it, but thankfully he kept everything down and we moved on.

It was a fun day, even without the blond wigs and big boobs!

They aren't bikers, but.....

We all know that our friend Joker is good at supplying pictures of all the hot biker chicks for the boys. Well I have made it my mission to supply the women with pictures of hot biker men. The only problem is that the only hot biker I've seen lately is Dave, and you've all already seen pictures of him. So... they may not be bikers, but how about some baseball players. When I was in Tennessee we went to a Nashville Sounds baseball game, and I decided maybe some of you girls would like these. After all, the second baseman has more tats than a lot of bikers I know. My only question is...What happened to the tight pants they used to wear?

Never fear ladies, Hollister is only a few days away, I will continue my quest!

Meeting Ronman

When I found out that Ronman lived just a few miles from my parents, I knew that I would have to meet him while in Tennessee. Unfortunately my family kept me so busy that I wasn't sure if I would be able to. Ronman was sweet enough, or crazy enough, to come to my parents house so that we would be able to at least hang out for a little bit. I thought that was really cool, because honestly, I don't know that I would be comfortable going to some strange house (and my family is very strange) to meet somebody that I didn't even know.

Ronman was exactly how I thought he would be. He is just an awesome guy, and had no problem hanging out with me and my family just shooting the bull. I did feel kind of bad, because my family acted like they haven't had company in years. Not in a bad way, but I think my dad told about a hundred stories about this and that, and Ronman was polite enough to listen to them.

And then my crazy niece (who I love more than life) went into her high school drama queen mode. Actually I think she might have a little crush on Ron, but don't tell her I said so. :)

All in all it was really great to meet one of my favorite bloggers, even if the visit was too short. Ronman is definitely a genuine guy and somebody who I feel fortunate to now call a friend. I will be keeping in touch and look forward to seeing him next time I am in Tennessee, and I will make sure that we get to go on a ride next time. I wish I would have taken more pictures, I'm kicking myself for that now, but next time.

Ronman, thank you so much for coming to see me. It was such a pleasure to meet a true gentleman as yourself.

And just a side note... if there are any single women out there looking for a decent guy, I would have to say that Ronman would be quite the catch! (Sorry Ron, just had to say it)

I love my shower

I have finally returned from my two week vacation. The kid and I had an awesome time, but it is always nice to come home. I love sleeping in my own bed, but most of all I love taking a shower in my own shower. Maybe it sounds silly, but I have everything exactly where it works for me, I know where to turn the knobs so that the water is perfect, I just love my own shower.
Okay, that is done. I had really intended to keep up on the posts while I was gone, but it didn't really work out, so over the next week I will try to get my crap together and put up some posts of our amazing trip. This is the longest vacation I have ever been on, and the best part about it was that the kid and I had an opportunity to spend some great time together before he had to go to his dad's for the rest of the summer.
I am looking forward to catching up with all of you, as silly as it may sound, I have really missed you guys! :) Especially you Dave!

"V" is for VACATION

I am on vacation!!! Whoo hoo!
Monday morning the kid and I flew to Denver then to Tennessee. We came to visit my family, who I haven't seen in two years. We will spend ten days here, then fly to Utah, spend a night there, then drive to Idaho for a few days before we go home.

Yesterday was fun. We went to Dave & Busters for dinner, then we went to the Grand Ole Opry. We saw Craig Morgan, Joe Diffie, Charlie Daniels, and Opry regulars, Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson. All the performers were great, but the best was when Charlie Daniels sang "How Great Thou Art" for his last song.
Today we woke up early to go hit some golf balls. I have never even held a golf club, but my older brother and my oldest niece are totally into golf so the kid and I decided to go with them. It was fun, but I have to say that golf is not my "thang". Other golfers were actually laughing at me. I can't say that I blame them.

The last couple of days have been fun, and I'm looking forward to the next few. Today my little brother, his girlfriend and their daughter are coming over to see us, and my mom is making my favorite dinner....spaghetti. Tomorrow we are going to "Dollywood". Can't wait.

Hope you are all having a great week so far! :)

Meet Rex

Hi everyone! Just wanted to introduce the newest member of my household. Meet Rex. Rex is a two week old albino corn snake. We aren't sure yet if Rex is a male or a female, but we don't really care. We have been looking forward to bringing Rex home since he (we're going with male for now.) was hatched. We had to wait until he had eaten to make sure he was healthy, and apparently he is because he is already eating pinkies (baby mice).


I know snakes aren't every body's thing, but I love them and have wanted one since I was a kid. My dad is deathly afraid of them so it never happened. Well, except for once when I was in junior high school I found a snake and brought it home. I hid it in my closet for awhile, but then it disappeared and I have no idea what ever happened to it. I wasn't sure if the kid would want one, but he is totally into it. I even made him watch a snake eating mice just to make sure he could handle it, he thought it was very cool! Yeah! I'm so excited. I will be updating now and then so you can all see him grow, for those of you who care. :)

Pipe Dream

Websters dictionary defines pipe dream as follows:
Main Entry: pipe dream
Function: noun
Etymology: from the fantasies brought about by the smoking of opium
Date: 1896
: an illusory or fantastic plan, hope, or story

Oh, yes, pipe dreams. We all have them. There are the standard run of the mill ones that start out as pipe dreams, you know the things that "would be nice" but we aren't really expecting them to happen. Like winning the lottery, we think about it, we plan out what we would do with all that money, but most of us don't really expect to win.
But then there are things in our life that don't start out as pipe dreams, they start out as beautiful, palpable plans or ideas for our future. These things only turn into pipe dreams after we wake up day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, and they are never realized. Sadly, these are the dreams that are hard to walk away from. You want to hold on just a little while longer because you believe in your heart of hearts that it will happen, but every time you feel like you may be close another piece of the puzzle is revealed to you, and you realize you still have so far to go. And then you start asking yourself "how long is too long?" We can't always control every situation in our life, all we can do is control how we handle the situation. Sometimes there are no easy answers, you just have to do what feels right at the time and then never look back. No regret.
Reality sucks, but sometimes it is necessary.