Happy Merry

I have to apologize.  I have been in a blogging funk lately.  Finals kind of took over my life.  It was hard for me to even put words together that didn't have to do with digital hearing aids, ear canal resonance, or really just the EAR in general.  Then when they were over (which has only been about a week) my brain felt like it was on fire and I didn't feel like stringing any words together.  But here I am.  I promise to do better.  I still haven't finished the roomie blog and I haven't told you about getting trapped in the elevator.  Yeah, you'll want to check back.

So we had a great Christmas.  I'm sure you all did to.  This year was so special for me.  2010 has been a truly wonderful year for me.  I really learned how to trust in the Lord this year and His blessings have been abundant.

I feel like we have the best Christmas traditions.  I'm sure everyone feels that way but ours really are the best.  We always head to my grandmother's on the 23rd to start the festivities.  We always get a good visit in that day and night.  I kind of feel like it's my family's special day with her.  But Christmas Eve?

That's the day the real fun begins.  When I was little my grandparents owned a clothing store, so the day always started out there.  I know I've talked about the store before but Christmas Eve really probably was the most fun day to be there.  People rushed in to BUY...because it was the deadline.  It was always the place to visit old friends and see people from town.  I remember playing in the windows and "selling" to customers who would come in.  While we don't do this anymore...I'll always have fond memories of "working" at the store on Christmas Eve.

The rest of the traditions we've done for as long as I can remember.  Christmas Eve night everyone comes to Mimi's for dinner.  We start hors d'oeuvres around five.  This year we had sixteen...we were missing twenty-two people, I believe.  Happy hour kicks off the holiday while we wait for the carolers.  Yes.  The carolers.  They come every year.  We go running to the front door when they ring the bell and stand on the porch for their performance.

 That's some merriment, y'all 

Filing out on the porch

The carolers really have to be my favorite part.  A mini-reunion on the front lawn.  Where friends have become family.  The last Christmas my grandfather was with us, the carolers came up into the house and went into his room to sing to him.  Let me tell you, the tears were flowing that year and even as I type a tear has crept up on me.  It really was one of the most special moments of my life and one I will never forget.

After the carolers leave we head back into the house and eat our Christmas Eve gumbo.  My daddy is always the chef for this meal.  It is so good and it has become a joke with our family friends every year, "Don't forget the gumbo".  It's a staple.  Gumbo and meat-pies.  Every year.  Thankfully I've learned the secrets that go into the pot...I've hovered over him every year...watching his every move.

We literally feast and have wonderful conversations until bedtime.  In the town where my grandmother lives a siren goes off at nine o'clock every night.  We affectionately call it "the nine o'clock whistle" and it really has gone off every single night since really...forever.  Really, forever.  When we were little, when "the nine o'clock whistle" sounded it was time for bed.  We've since loosened the reigns on our "bedtime", but I still go to bed early so Santa can come.  Yes, Santa still comes and he always will.

Christmas morning is my favorite day of the year.  Everyone gets up early and we head down to the kitchen.  The baby cousins (we aren't babies anymore coming in at 24, 22, 21, and 19...but there is a gap between us and the old cousins) and our families stay at Mimi's house...because we all live out of town.  So as I was saying, WE all gather in the kitchen.  All the doors to the den are closed...no peeking...because that's where our gifts are tucked away in our designated spots.  God forbid Santa forgets where we are located.  We have our SPOTS.  When we are ALL in there we can open the door. We head in and start opening.  Mimi turns the kitchen into a diner...cooking up a breakfast storm.  After we've reeked havoc on the den we wait for the other family members to arrive.  We show off our Santa gifts and visit for a moment more before we feast on some Christmas breakfast.  We eat everything a traditional Southerner would eat for breakfast, plus ambrosia...my absolute favorite. 

After that, we head into the living room.  We all have our designated spots to sit in.  Like, don't try to sit somewhere new because it.ain't.happening.  We open the gifts under the Christmas tree.  The gifts are from Mimi and Papa and our Secret Santa.  This is the most special time.  The baby cousins pass out the gifts to all of the family members.  We sit and watch each other and all you can hear is "Wooooo!!!", "Ahhhhh!!!", "Oh me lard!!!", "Thank- you, Mimi!!!!".  It's exciting let me tell you.  My favorite part is watching my sweet grandmother take it all in.  Pure JOY is on her face the entire time.  She loves watching the babies, seeing the excitement on our faces, and having her family all up in the same room.  I love watching her gingerly open her gifts and really just cherishing EVERY gift.  It really it my favorite part.  I used to watch my Papa do the same thing.  He drank it in...really in gulps.  His eyes twinkled during this part...that's why it's my favorite.  Norman Rockwell would be having a hey-day.  I kid you not. 

(Please spy the hookah on the shelf.  I really am Lebanese) 

After gift time, it's shower time.  We get dressed in our Christmas outfits and prepare to feast again.  And believe me, we do.  Once our feasting is over we clean up and head to the living room...well the ladies do.  We go up there and chat while the men sit in the den and sleep watch football.  We just enjoy being with each other and really spend the rest of the day catching up with one another.  Family bonding and it's always the perfect medicine.

I wouldn't trade it.




On a side note, we had a bit of sad news the day after Christmas.  I'll let her tell you about it because she says it so perfectly.


Happy Merry, y'all.

What's Up

Hey guys.

I am still alive.  Promise.  Finals have started.  Oh my.  Not too bad, just really busy.  I took two last week, plus "test 3" for Anatomy.  It was a pretty overwhelming week to say the least.  Don't worry, I lived it up Thursday-Sunday.  So here I am now, two finals between me and Christmas and what am I doing?  I'm in the middle of my "grace" week.  I thought I always wanted one in undergrad but I've proven to be very unproductive with the days I've had off.  What have I been doing you ask?  Oh you know: going out, eating, watching movies, watching youtube videos, playing in the snow (yeah I said snow and lots of it), practicing my driving skills in the snow, blogging (I have a roomie blog in the works...check back soon), doodling, being lazy, cleaning....you know ANYTHING that isn't studying. 

 Since I'm still on that kick right now, I'll show you what I have been up to.

Making Wreaths

Kicking people out of my car who wouldn't let me come back to the Big City 

Studying a bunch of muscles, learning the value of a Sharpie, and drinking a bunch of coffee

Learning it's easy to sleep anywhere 

Grad School will make you do some weird things

Checked out some lights at the zoo

Sipped on a martini 

Got a precious Christmas card 

Check out what else edotlouise can do!

Got my first snow here in the Midwest 

And went to a work Christmas party

I now have this facing me ....

Yeahhhh.  So I'll be catching you later.

Just wanted you to know.....

What's up.

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.

Jello: Here, There and Everywhere

Happy Halloween!

We had another great week here in the Big City.  We had a ridiculous test on Wednesday.  It was lengthy and time consuming and non-stop writing.  Finally after the teacher had extended the class by 30 minutes he just told us to turn them in...he was happy with our diligence and was just ready to go.  Yeah, it was fun.  Yeah, I celebrated that night.

I will be making a trek HOME this weekend.  I can hardly stand it.  I am literally counting down the hours until I am in Oxford.  My thoughts are consumed with what I am going to do, where I want to shop, who I want to see, what I want to eat, so on and so forth.  I haven't left the Big City yet, so it will be quite a treat to head south.  I'm ready to hear a southern voice...probably most of all.  Come on Thursday!


Surprisingly I've never made mention of some very important weekly traditions.  Two things that make my week complete.  First, on Wednesday we go to trivia night at this little bar across town.  Dr. Love hosts so we first went to support her but in going we've met some pretty cool people along the way...the combination brings us back every week.  We call them our non-CID (our school) friends.  Don't get me wrong, we love being together, but some times it's nice to not talk about...hmm...the resonant frequency of the ear canal, or masking, or how many layers of blood vessels are in the ear...basically just non school stuff.  It's definitely a break...and well deserved.  My other very special time is on Thursday.  Thursday= TV time (pronounced like T-shirt time...like on Jersey Shore).  The Thursday night line-up is crucial to our week.  A time for relaxation and togetherness.  Usually the day where we overindulge (consuming more calories in one evening than should be consumed in two days...calorie-smaloire)...the official start to the weekend.

Halloween in the Big City was amazing.  Everyone took such attention to detail. Lots of fabulous costumes. The "big event" was in our neighborhood and since we live the closest we decided to host a little gathering.  We had a good turn out and a good time.

When we got home it was pancake time.  I attempted bacon as well.  That was a nightmare.  I don't even eat bacon...so I had no clue how to cook it.  Scorched my finger.  I enlisted a sous chef after that.  Waking up this morning was fun.  My apartment had the very intoxicating aroma of bacon, vodka, and jello.  Why you might ask?  We made jello shots for the occasion...which I found everywhere....like on the walls of the kitchen, on the baseboards, on the floor.  Everywhere.  Definitely worth it.  Here's the aftermath.

I don't recommend leaving a syrupy plates out all night. 

See y'all (well some of y'all) in God's Country...in a few short days.