Need I Mention

I'm not watching the news anymore.  I literally refuse to turn it on.

Last week I was informed that the Big City= Most Dangerous City.

Thanks Perez

Need I say more?  We all know that I am terrified of my own shadow, that I lock up my home-home with every dead-bolt possible (we live in suburbia), that when alone I immediately lock my car door upon my rear hitting the seat, and for that matter...I walk with keys clutched in my hand ready to stab someone's eye out...henceforth and there shall...don't sneak up on me.  So need I mention there were EIGHT murders in the Big City today.  Four of them in a funeral home...during a funeral. Umm, hellero? 

I was bombarded with visceral attacks from the media today.  I was stuck in the cafeteria this afternoon with CNN blaring.  The way they described it, 1) Korea might actually already be off the face of the planet...if not they will indefinitely be attacking the US, 2) I will undoubtably be manhandled at any and all airports, 3) These Wiki-leaks have made the US the Wicked Witch of the West (literally)/ terrorist spies, 4) They even reported the funeral murder here...so I will face an untimely death by stepping out of my home.  I'm not getting Fox News Tweets anymore either.

From now on, my news sources will be Entertainment Tonight, Star Magazine, US Weekly, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Conan, Jersey Shore, and Chelsea Handler.  They report on the important stuff, right?  Who cheated on who, Prince William's wedding, how to get my GTL on, vodka, and botox.  What more could I ever want to know?

Need I mention I'm being extremely sarcastic in this rant? 

But for real.  I'm done with the news. 

Giving of Thanks

I have a lot to recap from the past few weeks.  I have been busy and I've had one special Southerner that came to visit.  I've been studying and I've been gearing up for a week of tests (not to be confused with finals...they've piled those on for the following week) that will surely reign down on me when I get back.  Enough with my belly-achin'.

These last few days have been fabulous.  I've been HOME...as well as in my second home.  We had the best Thanksgiving...with nearly all of our family there.  Let me tell you, when our extended family gets together...it's a constant party.

Our family has had a great year: new babies, successful surgeries, an upcoming marriage, new jobs, new schools, big moves, good health...I've said this before...but the list goes on.  It really has been great.  I especially loved this visit because I got to see some of my favorite babies...who are, unfortunately, not babies anymore.  It is almost surreal to see these little people with spiked hair, having opinions, and saying things that grown-ups say...because I was JUST giving them baths, tucking them in with their favorite blankets, and fixing chocolate milk when they got up from their naps.  It was just weird but exciting to see them in this new season of life.

I would never want to be anywhere else than Mimi's house for a holiday.  It is truly the place where calories don't count and the laughter is always multiplied.  EVERY meal is followed with desert...be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  This trip was no different.  We laughed and cried.  And laughed until we cried.  I love my family.  I love that we support each other...right or wrong.  We are united.  We are family.

The love abounded this Thanksgiving.  It was everywhere.  In the little jokes we cracked.  The little smirks we shared across the table.  The hugs we gave.  The make-up applications.  In the millions of question and answer sessions from our littles.  In the baby snuggling.  In our blessings.  In our visiting.  It was everywhere.

And it was exactly what I needed.

It's Just That Simple

Whatever is bothering you.  Whatever is getting you down.  When you feel defeated.  When you don't think you're good enough.  When you feel like everyone is against you.

It's Just That Simple.

I'm Backkkk

Mercy.

Its been a while.  I know.  I'm sorry.  I'm sure you've all been waiting with baited breath for an update.  I do apologize.  Hopefully I can catch you up.

So, last weekend I went home.  HOME.  For the first time since August.  That week I was physically in the Big City but my actual being was in the South.  I was TOTALLY distracted and my every thought was consumed by what I would be eating and who I would be seeing.  Sad, but true.

Finally Thursday of that week rolled around.  I woke up earlier than usual.  It was like Christmas morning.  I was so giddy and just rolled with the punches until I could get on the road.  I even loaded the car and drove to class so that I could leave immediately after it was over.  When we were dismissed we sprinted out the door to the car.  Did you catch that?  Yes, we.  Me, a Mid-Westner, and a Yankee....headed to the Deep South.  The drive flew by.  I almost cried at mile 143.6 (yes, 0.6...Missouri has mile markers up for every tenth of a mile...the tax payers must be proud) at my first sighting of a Mississippi car tag.  Don't see those up here.  I taught the visitors Hotty Toddy.  That was a first for me. We cruised on down the road.  My passengers serenaded me with nearly every Disney show tune....I learned I must not have watched a lot of Disney movies as a child.  They also perfected the fish tail braid...braiding each other's hair as we barreled down the highway.  I so wish I had photo evidence...if I wasn't mistaken I would have thought a couple of Duggar's had jumped in my car....say no to the fish tail.

 Just driving Miss Daisy

As we pulled into Memphis I pointed out the highlights.  My exit was closed so I took the detour...into the ghetto regions of South Memphis.  As we crossed over South Parkway I realized I'd heard this street referenced in various rap songs from my high school dayz.  Wow.  I was so glad this was the visitor's first impressions. 

We finally got home.  Boosin and Wilheim met us at the door.  They had prepared a feast.  A serious feast.  Pimento cheese, hummus, fruit salad, steak, twice bakes potatoes, salad, and chocolate candy cake.  They really rolled out the red carpet and if I'm now a guest in my own home...I don't mind it.  We ate and visited and went to bed.

Friday we got up and headed to Oxford.  My heart was racing the whole time.  We went straight to Crosby and surprised the Poodle in her dorm.  She was excited to see us but since we were all starving we went straight to lunch.  Ajax.  Oh Ajax.  How I have missed you.  Ajax is a fabulous restaurant on the Square.  Soul food.  Comfort food.  Southern food.  Man sized portions.  In essence, the perfect place to go.  We feasted (a theme for the weekend) on sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, chicken and dumplings and mac and cheese.  Best of all...sweet tea and fried okra...firsts for the visitors...I'm glad I was able to introduce them.


Following lunch we stepped out on the Square and who did we see?  None other than Mr. Neshoba County and Brelander.  In the flesh.  We had a short visit in the street before we parted ways...naturally we were reunited later.  So we pushed on.  Went shopping, of course.  Hit up my favorite stores and saw some of my favorite people in the process.  We then went to Rowan Oak, the home of literary marvel, William Faulkner.  The Poodle and I tried to give a brief history of his casa to the visitors.  Another first there...the visitors saw their first magnolia tree...one visitor in particular was quite taken with them...taking 812038937511230998147435762 pictures of the tree (another theme for the weekend...picture taking).  To each his own. We then toured the campus and by toured I mean a quick drive by of all the "sites" to behold.  After that it was time to meet up with our hosts for the weekend.  They were getting ready for their last fall formal when we arrived.

Here they are.  Biffles if you will.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for having us!  We had a great time.

After dropping our stuff off we went back to the Square for some more shopping and to see the Homecoming parade.  Red and blue everywhere.  Southern voices.  Hotty Toddy.  I cried.  I did.  I was so in my place in that moment.  We saw the parade briefly and we were then invited by Father Brelander to come up to the bank balcony for a visit...so we did.  I was excited for the visitors to get this view of Oxford.  It was stunning as the sun was setting.  We had a good visit and we were so proud of Brelander on getting Junior Maid!  You go girl.


We then went to run some errands and made another surprise visit to see my H(e)artBerry.  Again, I cried.  I was so excited to see her, her ring, Chadberry, Cholotrain, Elenamc, and others.  He really did it folks.  He put a ring on it.  And she, was exactly the same.  That's the good thing about friendship...it picks up right where you left off....we "left off" in JUNE....thank God she's getting married...her "events" will ensure a reunion before another 5 months go by.  Another abbreviated visit...but a great one.

Headed to Volta after that.  Oh.my.margarita.  I've been missing them.  And the gyros.  Oh and in case you were wondering.  Yes, we feasted.  Again.  When dinner was complete we went and got ready for a night on the town.  Hit up all the undergrad hotspots.  It was fun to be back but very clear that I was old.  Unfortunate but true.

Saturday.  We went to the Grove.  We hit up the deeg first.  It.smells. exactly.the.same.  It really did.  First person I saw after walking in was Ms. Eva.  I was home.  I gave a tour to the visitors and visited with Ms. Russell.  I loved every second of it.  We then got to the Grove.  My heart was about to burst.  We feasted again.  And, most importantly...I got to eat Chic-fil-a.  Chic-fil-a.  For the first time in three months.  We had some cocktails.  We said some Hotty Toddy's.  We visited and saw some new faces.  We even got tickets to the skybox from Swamps.  Ahhhmazing.

The married couple even came up from Jackson for the weekend.  THANK YOU.  I'm so glad I got to see you edotlouise.  It was a good visit as well.  So good, in fact, that I sobbed when we had to say goodbye.  But we will be reunited soon.

(And for clarification...the the backwards hand thing is somehow a deeg "symbol".  The roomie thinks it's funny.  I hate it.  I feel like it should be outlawed.  It it the goofiest thing I've ever seen.  It was apparently comical over the weekend.)


We went back to Memphis that night to be an hour closer the the Big City.  Praise Heavens for Daylight's Savings.  We needed the extra hour.  We woke up and (gasp) feasted again.  On cinnamon rolls, fruit, biscuits, bacon, eggs, sausage, and grits.  I'm still full thinking about it.  Right before it was time to go, my mother packed up what some would consider the entire fridge.  You know the saying, like mother like daughter (it may not actually be a saying...but you get it)...it's true.  My mother turned into my grandmother and sent back ALL THE FOOD with me.  All of it.  Thankfully, I can avoid the grocery store for another two weeks.

The car ride back was long.  So long.  So unbelievably long.  You have no idea.  But we made it.  We had a midterm this week so we jumped right back in as soon as we got back...life stopped actually...as we studied...that also contributes to why you haven't heard from me.

Home.  It was just what I needed.  I had been gone just long enough for it all to be exciting.  I had missed my people and my place.  My heart is so full.  And I am so blessed.

But now I'm back....and I still love it.  I still love the Big City.  My life is here...at least for now.

I'm back.