My Granddaddy's hat

I was proud. I was strong. I was smiling and laughing. I didn't care who looked, I knew I looked good. I was confident. It was all about your hat. I felt invincible in your hat. Beautiful in your hat. Loved in your hat. I had style, maybe even class. I made other people laugh in your hat. I felt like you were with me in your hat. Maybe I should have tried my golf skills in your hat. Or cast a line into the ocean in your hat. But I didn't. I pranced in your hat. I danced in your hat. I strutted in your hat. I shopped in your hat. I watched a movie in your hat (and I didn't even fall asleep in your hat). I conversed in your hat. I drove in your hat. I sweated in your hat (sorry about that), but I just couldn't take off your hat. Because...I missed you in your hat. I loved you in your hat, even though I never saw you in your hat. But I know that up there...you're in a house with the front nine on the front and the ocean in the back (three rows back, just in case someone loves hurricanes as much as you love to fish)...in your hat.

Was Lost but Now is Found!

So, I THOUGHT I lost my phone---well, I did lose my phone, just not forever. Anyway-I was positive it was with me when I went hiking (obviously not so positive), but I had really brought it into the coffee shop that morning (the part I remember) and then back home BEFORE we went hiking. So then I read a book for a little while on my bed and my phone got lost under the pillows (which is why we couldn't hear it when Dave called it). So, the phone is found. YAY! I shall be able to talk to you again! Good stuff. So here's some pictures from hiking yesterday--the place I DIDN'T leave my phone!

No phone no phone...

So, Dave and I went on a most magnificent hike today with a few friends around the Nantahala area. It was beautiful! However, I also lost my phone--for good ya'll. Dave and I don't get our upgrade until February so I probably won't have another phone until then. If you need to get a hold of me call me on Dave's phone (e-mail me or call my parents for the number), Facebook me (i check that MULTIPLE times a day, almost as addictive as movies--lol--who am I kidding movies are SO much better), or e-mail me. Anyway--pass on the word that I lost my phone to friends and family who do not read this. Love you all and will miss talking to you for a little while :(.

~L~

Canada pictures-all that snow!

America has officially gone to pot

The Canadian dollar is worth more than the U.S. dollar.


p.s.
-we're safe in Canada
-Sleepy doesn't mind peeing in the snow
-it's snowing!!!! A lot

Pictures

1)Dave and I at the bowling alley
2)our new roof
3)Our New kitchen ceiling
4)Dave's mullet

So almost done...it's rather nice actually

So I painted the bathroom for the third time. I like it this time--FINALLY! 3 walls are orange and one is a creamy color, very cool. Now I just need to touch up. I'm not very good at the corners, Dave always has to do those, ugh. My LAST exam is today and then I have WHOLE MONTH off of school, can you believe it??? I can't. I'm also ALMOST done with my christmas shopping, but I'll get the rest of that done today. Dave took off work today to finish the ceiling in the kitchen. Our new roof was finished early last week and now he's replacing the ceiling tiles with wood where the water leaked through. So, we should ~hopefully~ be done with the kitchen and the bathroom by this weekend...YAY! Tomorrow is the 20somethings christmas party for our church. that should be really fun. Then Saturday is mine and Dave's christmas together. Not sure what we're doing yet, but we'll cook a dinner for two and open presents to each other (and to sleepy, lol) and maybe go to the movies or something. I'll post some pictures of that later.

Monday some of the girls from the church and I are going to the Biltmor. Then I'm going to meet Bethany in Asheville to see a movie and then come back to ours for a couple of days before heading home for Christmas. That's pretty much all the goings-on here for the last little bit. Dave got his hair cut into a mullet for youth group before cutting it all off the next day. So he'll have the short hair and beard thing going on again this christmas. For pictures of that you should head to his facebook page.

Ok, so Shaun, my older brother, asked for a list from me for Christmas so here it is:

DVD's:
Pan's Labyrinth
Blood Diamond
The Last King of Scotland
Stranger than Fiction
Multiplicity
Gross Point Blank
Books:
Sisterhood of the Traveling pants--1 & 4
The Kite Runner
Harry Potter 1-5 hardback
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: a novel


I gotta study for my exam now. It starts in 3 hours, lol :).

Stress free...for the rest of the week

I am DONE with all my work for ALL my classes for this semester!!!! I'm so excited it's not even funny! I have this last week before exams and everything is done early! It's amazing really. I just finished my last mini-lesson plan and my last speech power point with typed out speech...AND I'M DONE! Tomorrow I will hand in all my assignments, do my speech and mini-lesson, and sit back and relax the rest of the week. Then, of course, next week comes and it's exam time, but that's then and this is now :). So so nice.

Last night I got to do something really fun. The girls around town and church had what we call a clothes swap. Which means you bring all the clothes you don't wear or don't want anymore possibly bring home clothes you fit into and DO want! So everyone got there and we dumped all our clothes on the floor and everyone just started trying on things. It was so much fun! I ended up with a lot of nice clothes for teaching next semester, which means I don't have to go buy a whole bunch of clothes I won't wear anywhere except in the classroom. Then we ate food and laughed and I really wish I had some pictures of the really hilarious outfits we played around in. It was like playing dress-up again! Great time, we'll definately do it again next year.

We put up our Christmas tree and went to the Christmas parade here in town on Saturday. Our church had a float with our band on it and they were really the best. In fact, they were actually judged as the best float. The float was a snowman that was sideways and they turned it into a guitar--you really would have to see it, I can't explain it so well. Anyway--the music was kickin'--maybe i'll be able to find a picture somewhere. Anyway, decorating the tree that night was really nice. I'll have to get some pictures of that up too. The whole apartment smells like christmas now :0D love it!

Well, I need to wash some dishes before Dave gets home. See ya'll later!

Winter hits early

I'm not sure when the first day of winter is supposed to be, but yesterday it snowed here. I mean, nothing really big, but it was ACTUALLY below freezing and there was snow in the air. It was cool, but REALLY friggin cold. A group of us from Bryson are going snowboarding Tuesday night up at Cataloochi (the only ski place around here), which is already blowing snow. Anyway, just thought I'd update ya'll with some info. Hope all is going well out your way. Thanksgiving is just next week! I'm very excited. It's definately my favorite holiday of them all because you just get to hang out with family, eat, and watch football. Plus, the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year and it's fun just to go and watch everyone go COMPLETELY nuts (i don't even think I bought anything last year). Then Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we're going to decorate my parents house for Christmas and put of the Christmas Tree! I love decorating for Christmas! So I'm heading off here, I got to get some homework done. They're really loading us down right now. Peace!

Black and White memories

I'm the baby in the 1st pic--then Shannon (older sis) and Shaun (older bro): 2nd pic-just me: 3rd pic-Shaun and I: 4th pic-Daddy, Shaun, Shannon, and I: 5th pic--Mommy and me

Hike up to Looking Glass

The thing around my head is a t-shirt, my ears were cold and I didn't have anything else :)

Fall news

Well, I was going to try to post some pictures, but blogger is having problems today and won't post anything. I thought it was my internet brower (for those of you that have a Mac, Safarai sucks-download Foxfire, it's free and SOOO much better), but alas it wasn't

So, news on us. A couple of weekends ago Dave, Sleepy, and I went for a drive one Saturday afternoon on the Parkway. The leaves were at the PEAK of their color change and it was absolutely beautiful (if blogger ever stops being annoying I'll put up some pictures, or you can just check them out on my Facebook page). We had a picknick lunch at a pull-off/park and it was just an amazing day. Dave took some great pictures of everything.

That same night the youth group had a camp-out at the church called "Fall Freeze"--which it was because it has gotten quite chilly up here. We had a huge weenie roast and had smores afterwards and a huge bonfire. It was alot of fun. We took Sleepy with us and it was his first experience in a tent. I was a little worried about him peeing in the tent, but he did great! We put soem blankets down at the end of the tent and he just snuggled down in them and went right to sleep (I think the kids wore him OUT!). About 5 am he got cold and Dave put him in his sleeping bag and he went back to sleep. Good first camping trip!

LAST weekend was the big gear swap here in Western N.C. called GAF. It's the Guest Appreciation Festival help by NOC every fall. It was awesome, as usual, and lots of fun. I FINALLY bought a snowboard!!! (pix of that to come soon-hopefully-too). It's an AMAZING snowboard-almost brand new (Oxygen board- for those who are wondering) and top of the line bindings (Burton's lightest). I got everything (boots and all) for under $200!!!! I am SOOO stoked about that. Seriously, my little, and older brother too, are going to be EXTREMELY jealous of my bindings--they are just so sweet.

Friday night Dave and I went to a hall0ween party. It was a 90's TV or Movies themed party and I was Blossom (remember her?) and he was Rambo. It was pretty hilarious. Our camera had died so I'll have to get those pictures from a friend--but you really should see them. We played 90's trivia and my team, although the youngest of the group, did really well.

This weekend we're going to try and go out of town. maybe camping-Dave really wants to go. It'll be nice to get a weekend away just the two (and Sleepy) of us.

Well, that's pretty much it! Sorry there's no pictures--but if you're on Facebook you can check them out there. Love you all!

P.S. I want pictures of all the kids Halloween costumes ok???

painting and exhausted

We're painting everything. The kitchen cabnets are almost done--I think, but the walls have just been started. I put the primer on in the kitchen today and the bathroom still needs one wall painted (with a color that hasn't been picked out yet). The bedroom hasn't even been STARTED on, and we're leaving the paneling in the living room as is, for now anyway. There's stuff EVERYWHERE and it is driving me crazy! The cabinet doors are in the living room drying, the fridge is in the MIDDLE of the kitchen, and everything that's supposed to be in the kitchen is EVERYWHERE. I'm exhausted and I haven't even started on my homework yet today. I don't know if I can. Ugh. I will be SOOO excited when everything is painted and done, but right now I'm hating living in the chaos--I like tidy and this is nuts.

*pictures when everything is done--whenever THAT is.

another 2--comp keep messing up today

Random pics from this weekend's wedding

Dave + Luke

a coat for baby

he's a little thing--only 7 lbs. so we got him a coat for the winter :-D. It says K9-U. Cute huh? lol The other is a fleece and needs to be taken in a little, but it'll still keep him warm. We found both of them in the baby section at Goodwill. Dave thinks the fleece is, "fru fru"--but he'll be too cold outside this winter without it.

The Facts

Brittany lost her battle to keep her kids and now has to turn their custody over to K-Fed.

We now have a brand new tenant in our next door apartment named Lauren (yay Ren!) and she's a friend of ours.

Dave is walking regularly now with not too much pain throughout the day.

I'm going to be on a reality TV show.

Now hold on, I know you're MOST excited about the reality TV show, but Brittany is more important. JUST KIDDING! So, here's the scoop. I'm not actually a contestant on the TV show, but I will be featured in one of the first episodes of the show. I will be the only female raft guide in it. The show is called College Hill and is on the BET channel. The producer said it was a "black version of the Real World" and it's in its 5th season. I got called up on Friday afternoon and asked if I could come run the ropes course for a reality TV show and possibly guide a raft. I, unfortionately, thought that sounded cool and said "yes." So, I got there Sunday morning and set-up the tower and then the adventure began. Tech crew said the cast would be an hour late--ok, it's all good. Then, said group said they might not come at all actually--but we would wait some more--ok done. So, tech crew decides they'll try out the course until the cast gets there. Crew has a good time, cast doesn't make it in time to actually do the ropes course. Then they say, "the crew will be here in 10 minutes then we'll get right on the river," yeah right. An hour and a half later we're on the river...for the longest raft trip in the history of NOC. It took 4 hours to get down the river because the camera crew had to get the right shots at every turn. We must have pulled over 20 times. Talk about UNreality TV--everything is framed...it super sucks. So, after the coldest, longest raft trip ever it was finally over...and guess what...they didn't even tip us.

P.S. but I still wanna be on Survivor, cause THAT'S real :-D

And here's the stitched up picture

I would have sent you the original gorey (sp?) photo, but I don't think you can handle it, lol

A Trip to the Hospital

Well, we had our own trip to the hospital yesterday, or at least Dave did. Around 11:30 I got this very lighthearted message from one of the guys that Dave works with that said, "Hey Leigh, just wanted to let you know Dave fell of a ladder and cut his leg. It's just a little cut but we're taking him to the hospital now. He's ok, don't worry." Well, as any woman would know, if it was "just a little cut" they wouldn't have gone to the hospital in the first place, they woulda stuck some glue on it and kept working. This was no little cut. Though, I didn't find out till I got home that night (because Dave kept evading my questions about it on the phone) that it was a 22 stitches kind of "little cut." I've yet to actually see it because there are bandages over the stitches, but from the crusted blood outside it doesn't look like it feels very good. He's off work for the next couple of days and is hobbling around the house and whining about how I won't let him drive (he's not supposed to work machinery with the pain pills he's on). So, Sleepy and I are catering to his every need :). He really is ok though. He was very impressed with the doctor who sewed him up. He's in the bed watching Podcasts on his iPod and reading his climbing magazines...ah the life, lol. Will put up some pictures of the wound when the bandages are off! I bet you can't wait, lol.

Our baby playing

The grandeur of puppyhood

Sleep is escaping us. We are trying to teach Sleepy to stay in his carrier without whining at night. It's progressing, but slowly. If you tell him "no" firmly and walk out again after about twice he quiets down, but then starts back up around 5 a.m. I took him out this morning that time, though he had already pooped AND peed in the bathroom. During the day, on the days I'm not at school, I can usually tell when he needs to go out, or I just go out about every 2 hours or less. He is very good at trying to get to the right place to go but just isn't sure where that is yet. If he does pee inside it's usually close or on the way to the door, although, what isn't close to the door in our little apartment, lol. He's good at going outside when he's out there, but just doesn't know how to TELL us when he needs to go out yet. We're using the bell method. There's a bell at his level by the back door. Every time we take him out to pee or whatever we ring the bell and say, "lets go outside." If he accidentally rings it at any time we immediately take him outside. Eventually he should learn to ring the bell whenever he wants to go out. That way we can just bring the bell wherever we go and put it beside a door. We're hoping it works :-D.

He's such a sweet puppy though. All he wants to do is be loved and be with people. He's just learning to play fetch, a little, and SOMETIMES he brings it back. We were watching a movie last night and were cuddled up together on the couch. But he's not allowed on the couch, so we got down in what is now his chair (he claimed it pretty quickly) and cuddled with him (he looked at us VERY pitifully). He does already know that he's not allowed in our room. I'm allergic to dog hair, though his doesn't generally bother me, but we decided not to start the whole sleeping in the bed with us thing. Even when I leave the door to the bedroom open and am in there, he'll sit in the doorway and watch me. If he starts to step in I say, "no" and he steps back to where he was. Such a smart puppy! We love him to BITS! Well-that's our "baby" update. I think it's good practice for kids in that we are realizing we are NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ready to have kids :-D.

Suprise!

It's a puppy!!!! I know, I'm the biggest hipocrite ever. I fell in love with this dog though, and I just had to have him. Dave jumped at the chance, knowing I might never want another dog, and we picked him up the next day. His name is Sleepy (his brother is Doc and his sister is Snow White), he's a Jack Russell Terrier, and he weighs (guessing here) around 4 lbs. He was the runt of the litter and probably won't weigh more than 12 lbs. as an adult. His name fits him perfectly (he's sleeping right now) because he sleeps at least half the day at the moment, being a puppy. He's only 8 weeks old. Anyway, we're exstatic about having him here. He's a doll! Hope you like the pictures!

Back To School

Well, I'm back at school. I'm taking classes on Tuesdays and Thursday this semester, which really cuts down on the gas bill. It makes for a long day though, as I'm in class from 9:30 in the morning until 6:00 at night with only 15 minutes between each class. After I sit for that long I prefer to stand up for awhile--which is good on Thursdays because I have worship band practice for church on Thursday nights.

I'm really enjoying SOME of my classes at the moment. Those being enjoyed include: Teaching Grammar (suprisingly, good discussions, but hard homework), Appalachian Studies (I figured if I was going to teach here, I should know something about the history, REALLY interesting class), and American Literature II (amazing teacher, hilarious, bright, funny, and she makes us all ponder so much about literature and the society we live in).

The only class I'm NOT enjoying is Speech because the teacher treats us like we are children (granted it's a freshman course and granted some of them are children).
The classes I'm still unsure about are Film Adaptions (I don't have the book yet, so when Amazon finally ships it to me and I find out what is really going on in class I may like it more) and Principles and Methods of Teaching (all in all an interesting class, but the teacher has ADD and tends to get off on random bunny trails quite alot).

The other things I'm involved with right now are the Sunday morning worship band (as mentioned), still working here and there for NOC, (soon to be starting back up) 20 something's small group, and youth group. Also trying to do some outdoor stuff around the area this weekend and go to an area where we can cliff jump (hopefully) and a really cool waterfall. Very excited about that.

Sorry it has been such a long time since I posted an actual information post, but here it is! I gotta jet now though, I'm heading to App. Studies class--so swish (lol--trying to adopt Victoria Beckams new word, how's it sound???lol)

hilarious--this is how my nephews are gonna be when they get older--I can just see Wyatt doing this to one of the twins...lol

more putt-putt

putt-putting and the beach

Beach dayz

I'm at the beach with my big sis and her family and kids. The boys are hilarious to watch, especially at the beach. It's great to play with the boys and them realize that just because I'm there doensn't mean their mom is leaving--their much friendlier that way.

Forgot to put up a picture of the picknick table that Dave built me for my birthday, so here it is. Have a great week! I'll put up some pictures of the boys putt-putting later this week! Love!

More Potter

So, as MOST of you know, the LAST Harry Potter book came out yesterday--Saturday 21st (got that wrong on my last blog). And no, I am NOT reading it yet. I'm grinding at the bit to do so, but I haven't made it out to Walmart yet and I know I'm going to have to go Tuesday anyway and--sigh--don't want to waste gas. So, I'm trying VERY VERY hard not to sigh loads and whine too much before then. Though every dream I've had recently has been about Harry Potter or his friends. I'm just afraid SOMEBODY'S going to tell me what happens before I read it! So far I've been extremely careful as to what I look at on the internet and magazines. Anything with even a picture of the books I've stayed away from, and I told my friends that if they told me what happens our friendship is OVER!!! Which, of course, is very understandable giving the dire circumstances (this being the VERY LAST~sniff sniff~ Harry Potter book of the series).

--But, I'm holding out---I'll be ok folks, don't worry about me too much, I'm very strong :')

Tuesday something ELSE very exciting is happening (though not quite as exciting as the Harry Potter book I am going to buy that day--of course). Dave and I are closing on our house! We will be purchasing the duplex we live in a continuing to rent out the other side while we live in the side we're in now. I'm SO exciting about FINALLY getting to do some redecorating (yes we really are quite alike Shannon). We've already been talking about paint colors, a new water heater, reroofing, and possibly cutting down a tree in the front drive. Plus we're possibly going to be adding some counter space! VERY EXCITING!

Oh--and Dave made me a picknick talbe the other day!!! It was supposed to be ready for my birthday but just didn't get all the pieces together by then. We've already eaten on it twice! (post pictures soon).

Also on Tuesday I'll be going in to pay for my tuition at school for this next semester and find out the starting date and all that. AND---drumroll please---I'll finally be getting the art for my second tattoo drawn up that day. This is the tattoo I've wanted for almost 8 years now, of a pheonix. I really can't wait to see what they do with the art. I won't be getting it done on Tuesday, they'll just be getting some pictures I've had drawn up and others I've taken from here or there and combining them and tweaking them a bit to made them exactly how I want them.

Anyway-that's enough excitement for one blog I think. Will keep you posted on how everything goes! Peace!

Dude....SWEET

THE NEW HARRY POTTER MOVIE IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AWESOME!!!! If you like Harry Potter at all you will love this movie. And don't forget:

HARRY POTTER BOOK 7 COMES OUT JULY 23RD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well guys, strap yourself in for a good movie review session. I went to see three movies this weekend. Yeah, I know, that's a litte excessive, but, I LOVE movies--I mean, I have a PASSION for film here. So, here's a little info on the movies I saw.

1) Live Free or Die Hard--one action packed movie!!!! Definately worth seeing if you liked the previous movies, or if you just wanna see a kick-ass action film. All I gotta say is "yippe kiyaa..." you know what comes next ;)

2) Transformers--I grew up with my brother's toys from this cartoon. I never knew the backstory though. And to tell you the truth, I was VERY sceptical of this film, I it blew me away. I wasn't sure they could pull off making the Transformers look real, or even good, but CGI was AMAZING! The action was GREAT, and Shia Lebouf played his part with flourish. A go-see movie that's very kid friendly--action between robots and a little language, but other than that it's clean (no sex at all).

3) License to Wedd--skip this film until it comes out on DVD--it's really not that funny, sorry to say. Definately not a best choice for Robin Williams who's usually pretty hilarious. Mandy Moore is obviously not a comedian. John Krasinski (from The Office) is the ONLY redeeming quality about this film and really is the only funny thing about it.


More movie news:!!!!

Harry Potter 5 comes out WEDNESDAY at 12:01 am (i will be seeing it at this time)! Heck YEAH!!! SO STINKIN EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's all for now.

Half a day for the 4th

I convinced a guide to take my place on the river today folks. So, I have HALF a day off on the 4th of July!!! YAY!! I must say, it is much needed. I was getting pretty down and weary of endless work. Especially, when I realized it was already July 4th and I go back to school in a month and half!!! Very sad. I need to do some more exciting things with my summer for sure! More movies. More weekend vacations. More hanging at the pub with friends. All these things need to happen for me to complete my summer on a good note. Well, I'm outta here. I'm going to take a nap on my half day off...WUHOO! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!

Fun pic of me in fountain at the Biltmore--aren't I cute??? lol

up to...

Had a birthday party on Saturday night. We had a blast. Went to Asheville Pizza and Brewing company and had a great time. They have THE best pizza and the MOST AMAZING rasberry beer. Some of my work friends came and a few people from Bryson as well. Then we stayed and watched a movie there (they do $2 movies on the weekends). Watched "Hot Fuzz." It was funny, I'll admit that, but it was REALLY gory, I was really suprised at all the gore. It was a good time though, very much appreciated.

I feel like I've been working forever. I thought to myself the other day--"I've only been working 5 days....but MOST people only work 5 days in row, I need a day OFF!" But, I don't get a day off till Saturday, so then I'll have worked 10 days in a row w/0 a day off. Oh Well, so goes summer work when you work in the tourist industry. I'm still enjoying it, but I'm DOG tired at the end of the day.

I'm working on the 4th of course, I mean, you can't exactly get off that day when it's gonna be a HUGE rafting day. Plus my department has several groups in this week. But, I'm only working till 5:30 that day, so it won't be too bad. I can celebrate afterwards.

Well, I'm outta here. I gotta plan some stuff for work tomorrow. Peace!