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Tuesday, 25 July 2006
Beaver Dam

 

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, not far from where I live, there is a neat little spot that I like to visit if I'm driving by and have a few extra minutes of time.  We did today.  Locals call it "Beaver Dam" and if I remember correctly there used to be a beavers den downstream.  Samantha hadn't been to see it (except when she was very young) and neither had her friend Amber, who is spending a few nights with us.  I was hoping to show it to them, but it doesn't look like it's there anymore.  Regardless, it's still a nice spot to visit.  The water looks like glass, until it cascades.  I love the sound of it and watching it drop off the edge.  I wonder if the water knows it's ready to fall........... 

    

 

                    Until Tomorrow!


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 12:14 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 25 July 2006 12:35 AM EDT
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Sunday, 23 July 2006
Stolen from a Deputy's Wife, part 1
Oh, and by the way, stealing from a Deputy's wife is not a bright idea!
But, I did it anyway, as usual, and you can too:  http://deputyswife.blogspot.com

(x) Smoked a cigarette A pack a day
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back Yes
(x) Gone on a blind date Never
(x) Skipped school  The most fun I had as a teen were days when I was skipping school
(  ) Seen someone die  No.  I found someone dead when I worked at a nursing home as a CNA and I also was there immediately following when my Papa passed.
(x) Been to Canada  My Dad took me to Quebec & Montreal - I remember seeing & loving Expo 67.
(x) Been to Florida I lived in Florida twice as an adult and as a child I had Great Grandparents that lived there and I visited them a few times too.  
(x) Been to Mexico  Again, with my Dad, Tiawanna (sp) - I was so excited because I was served a Margarita with dinner and I was only 13!
(x) Been on a plane  Many times but I always get nervous!
(x) Been lost  Yes - but not much - I'm great with directions
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country  Yes, again with Dad, San Diego & San Francisco on two separate vacations.  
(x) Gone to Washington, DC  Can you guess who I went to DC with?
(x) Swam in the ocean  Lived 10 miles, or less, from the ocean most of my life!
(x) Felt like dying  Yes - would perfer not to go into details
(x) Cried yourself to sleep  Yes 
(  ) Played cops and robbers I don't think so
(x) Recently colored with crayons Yes, at a restaurant, on the childs placemat that they gave to Kevin & I when we had no children with us!  It was quite fun!
(x) Sang karaoke Every year at our Labor Day cookout
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins Probablly - probablly even with pennies.  
(  ) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?  No
(x) Made prank phone calls   Only in early preteen years
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose Pepsi
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue.   Every year
(x) Danced in the rain   Tons
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus   Yep
(  ) Been kissed under the mistletoe No - but I think I kissed someone under the mistletoe, there is a difference between "kissing someone" and "being kissed"!
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about  Of course
(x) Blown bubbles  Every mother has 
(x) Made a bonfire on the beach  Did I not just say that I lived close to the beach all my life?
(x) Crashed a party  A few times
(x) Gone roller-skating  Every Friday night for years ....  and recently,  whenever my daughter can talk me into taking her
(x) Ice-skating  I grew up in Massachusetts

Posted by chrisseas-corner at 1:46 AM EDT
Updated: Monday, 24 July 2006 10:34 PM EDT
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Saturday, 22 July 2006
On the Way Home Tonight

I drive 25 miles to work and 25 miles home.  I get out at 11:30 and truly enjoy my ride home.  It's the hightlight of my night usually! 

The road is deserted and I absorb the briskness in the air as the elevation rises, I feel the contrast between the small city and the countryside, the cooling off from the hot steamy day revives me!  

 

 

On the way home tonight..........

 

I admire the deer I pass, three separate sightings, perched on the side of the roadway, as I slow to be sure there aren't  brothers and sisters trailing behind.

 

 On the way home tonight..........

 

I watch the flash lightening fill the sky, wishing a tremendous thunderstorm would descend.

 

 

On the way home tonight..........

I wonder about the application that I submitted for the house.  I haven't yet gotten any final word on it, but I was called on about my "length of time at current employment."   I put four months on the application, not because I was meaning to deceive anyone, but because that is truly how long it feels like I've been there.  It was one of those moments where I just didn't think, because stuff like that really isn't that important to me, but I guess I forgot that it might be important to some.  I've been in VA for four months, but only on the job for two.  Live n' learn.  Everything in life happens for a reason.   

On the way home tonight..........

 

I wonder where the moon is hiding.

 

On the way home tonight..........

 

I smell homegrown marijuanna, again, as I do every evening.  I wonder if this is truly what I am smelling and if not, what exactally is it that is mimicking this scent!

On the way home tonight..........

I think about my aunt Colleen and how she introduced me to this place I live.  I think about how she and my mother inspired me to blog.  I think about how I need one of those loose-leaf notebooks, that Colleen has carried around forever, to record my thoughts.  I think about how I can now relate to that notebook.  I get home and do a google search to find the perfect picture of scratch notes.  Instead, I find............................................................

 

  

Pictures of my two aunts, as children, on someone elses blog! 

NOW HOW COOL IS THAT!


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 1:16 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 22 July 2006 2:03 AM EDT
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Thursday, 20 July 2006
13 Things I love - in no particular order
Topic: 13 Thursday


1.    My daughter - Samantha - who truly has her own personality, and is growing into a wonderful little woman - (at times I'd like to jump to her 20's though.  I can tell the teen years aren't going to be easy!) 

2.    A terrific thunderstorm

3.    A mountain breeze following a thunderstorm, which I can feel right now and it feels just great!

4.    My cross-stictch - my creations

5.    My three sisters - Molly, Beth & Kim and all the babies they have created so far and will in the future.  

6.    My parents - Mom, Oz & Dad

7.    The rest of my gigantic family - Nana & Papa, Jimmy, Kathy, Colleen, Danny, Sherry, Joey, Johnny, Bobby & Tricia - and all of their offspring! 

8.    Life-long friends - you know who you are!

9.    Any Seafood - I best not think of this right now as I am hungry and could really go for a bowl of shrimp or a lobster dinner!  Actually I love food of all kinds.... 

10.  Creating my Blog - more creation

11.  Places I'm attached to - Massachusetts & Floyd - oceans & mountains

12.  Ruby - our German Shepherd - even if she can be quite the pain at times.  Like right now.... she is carrying things off in her mouth and hiding them in one of the bedrooms. 

13.  Getting comments - so please leave me one if you visit!

   


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 12:23 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 30 November 2006 8:24 AM EST
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Wednesday, 19 July 2006
This, That & Samantha's Rug

It's a HOT day, actually it's been a HOT week!  Everyone I've spoken too has mentioned melting.  I think we all feel this way this week.  There seems to be a heatwave throughout the US.

I have Tuesday and Wednesdays off from work and have been enjoying the freedom!  I went to look at a house yesterday and fell in love with it.  Today I brought my application back to the owners and it seems like we are going to get the house - we will know definately tomorrow.  It's about 5 miles up the road from where we live now, Becky's house.  It's also 5 miles closer to work.  It's on a nice country dirt road, animals are allowed, there's a pasture and barn behind the house, which we have access to and an excellent garden space for next years garden!  It's a 2-story farm house, but not too big, just perfect.  The first floor has kitchen, dining area (w/ woodstove), living room, bathroom and den.  The den area will be my computer room.  There are two bedrooms upstairs.  I won't tell you much more about it until I know if we got it or not.  More to come on the house, I'm sure.

Today Sam and I spent a little time outside.  I tried to mow the lawn but this darn thing 

 wouldn't cooperate.  I thought that it maybe was out of gas, so I went all the way to the store (& spent my last of my cash until Friday) to get some gas - only to come back and still have it not run.  It starts perfectly, but stalls out after a few huffs and puffs.  I got about 10' of lawn mowed with every start.  It's very frustrating and I was only able to get about 1/5 of the lawn done before giving up.  Something needs adjusting, apparently.

 Sam was hammocking

while I was trying to mow.  But I quickly stole the hammock for her, just long enough to take some silly pictures!  And we also did some berry munching!  The berry's grow wild in the yard! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My aunt Colleen requested pic's of our garden, so without further ado, here you go.  

It's definately more Becky's garden than mine.  I can't really take credit for it.  I planted the first few rows, the ones that are in front of Sami.  And, of course, as usual, those two rows are barely sprouting anything.  The garden behind Sam is flourishing, which Becky planted all herself.  I hope to do better with my own at the new house (hope hope).  Regardless, growing, and quite well, we will have tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, watermelon, & beans & peas.  There are also a few carrot sproutings, but I think Becky planted something over the top of the carrots so they are a little hard to detect.  The veggies will be ready to eat probablly right around the time we move out.  But.... that's ok.  We will be visiting often, as we will be right down the road (hope hope). 

My mother requested a picture of Sam's rug, so we took the rug outside, in good light to take a picture for her.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom taught Sami to hook rugs while Sam was visiting them this summer.  Don't confuse this with Latch-hook, it's not even close, it's an old fashioned hook rug - made with burlap & wool.  My Mom has them throughout her house and they are absolutely georgous!  Sami has been working on hers every night while we watch TV.  It's quite a cute picture, with both of us on the couch with our hoops.  Me with my cross-stitch and her with her rug.  Anyway, the rug is really coming along and I'm quite proud of her.  I've tried to teach her to cross-stitch but it doesn't seem to be her thing.  Apparently hooking rugs is!

It's starting to storm!  Hopefully it will cool things off around here!   


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 7:51 PM EDT
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Monday, 17 July 2006
Luna Appearance

 

Ok - So now I'm floored.  A Luna moth made his presence known in the dining-room last night.  This time I knew immediately that it was a moth, although it did look more like a bird! 

These moths are rare to see.  Here is ours:

 


 

 

 

 

 

He was Amazing.... with a capital A!  Fun to try to catch him on camera.  I was surprized I was able to get such a good, still shot.  Sami even had him perched on her finger for awhile! 

Somethings going on between myself & these moths and I'm determined to find out the meaning.    

Luna moths are one of the most unusual and beautiful of the North American moths known as Saturnidae. They are well known for their green-yellow colors and long tails,and although they are often seen in pictures, they are a real surprise when found in nature. Although they are common throughout the eastern U.S., their night flying habits and short life span as an adult moth, only about 1 week, combine to make them a rare find. The luna moth, with a wingspan of 4.5-5.0 inches, is one of the largest moths in North America and is very common in many of the eastern states from Maine all the way to Florida. They usually are seen less as you go westward to Texas and the Great Plains. It is also found in southern regions of many Canadian provinces such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskachewan.

My animal totem is obviously a moth.  I couldn't find the actual meaning of a moth, so I'm considering it a butterfly of sorts.  Like someone had commented on my moth entry, they do go through the same metamorphasis.  But - I think this is a "message" animal totem vs. a "life-long" animal totem.  There are also "journey" animal totems & "shadow" animal totems.

Leave me a comment & tell me what you think your Animal Totem is!      

About Animal Totems:

Animals come to us because they have a lesson we need to learn a power they are willing to share with a friend.  They seek to give us a gift of understanding, universal love, energy & knowledge.  In general, animals remind us that we are part of the earth; that each creature has a place; that each creature has a skill of it's own; that we have instincts given to us from Mother, wisdom born to us that we must awaken.  The Animal  Totem that comes to you offers you power and wisdom if you will learn to communicate with it, with respect, trust, and understanding. Developing a relationship with a live animal totem takes time, practice, patience and could be very dangerous. Having an animal totem does not mean that you are to pet the animal or even be with it physically. Having an animal totem means that you have lessons to learn and a powerful spiritual friend.

A Message Animal Totem usually is bringing you a self growth, spiritual message, or a cautionary warning. It is often a wake up call or slap in the face. It will usually be a very unusual experience making it very powerful at that time and very impartial. A Message Totem is a brief period of time, a day, a week, and occasionally as much as a couple of months but can be immediate for just a few hours.   Sometimes a Message totem is not bringing you a message but causing a delay in your life. This delay, such as when you are trying to leave to go somewhere, is often in assistance for you; to be sure you are not in a place at a certain time so that you avoid an accident or can catch a phone call or meet someone you are supposed to run into.

If you want to find your Animal answer the below questions.  These are the questions for a Message Animal Totem.....

What animal surprised  or startled you today?

What animal that you don't usually see, have you seen a couple of times today?

What animal entranced you today?

If you answered the same animal to two question then this animal is your Message Totem with a very important message. Heed it's word quickly for the message is for now and today. If you only answered one question then this is a message you should still consider.

I answered Moth to all three of these questions.

 

 

Most people have a Life-Long Animal Totem.   If your interested in finding out yours, answer these questions:

When you were a child, what animal did you collect or obsess over that you are still attracted to today?

Of all animals if you could have any animal as a pet or companion what would it be?

When going to the zoo, which animal do you spend the most time with or are drawn to?

If you could be any animal what animal would it be?

What animal is in your dreams that you have had since childhood?

What animal are you afraid of that you have no idea why you are afraid of it?

Of all animals what animals are you most attracted to?

When you are out in nature, do you often seem to run into the same animal?

What animal have you bumped into over and over throughout your life?

What animal have you watched for hours?

Does art work or jewelry with a certain animal always attract you?

You Life Long Animal Totem will be the animal that you answered at least three times out of the eleven questions. The more times the same animal is listed in your answers the more important and stronger it is in your life. The one that appeared most is your current Animal Spirit totem. 

If you want to learn more about animal totem's - types or how to determine yours, you can go to the below link.  This was where I found the above info and also the most interesting:  http://www.spiritualnetwork.net/totems/discover_your_animal_totems.htm


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 4:03 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 17 July 2006 4:09 PM EDT
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Sunday, 16 July 2006
Remember the Slip n Slide?

What FUN!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


EVEN THE DOG IS HAVING A BLAST!

 


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 8:09 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 16 July 2006 8:14 PM EDT
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Funeral for a Fish

I was visiting Morah Mommy @ http://imaof3.blogspot.com/ (the "new" Tripod no longer allows me to post a Link like it used to.  The button is there but it is not lit up to use right now..... how frustrating is that?).  Morah Mommy recently got a few new additions to her household, five new goldfish.  I was reminded of a very funny little story that I had forgotten all about until now.

We had gotten a couple of these: 

 


They are called Betta's aka Fighting Fish. 

It was December.  Samantha and I had our car packed to the hilt, ready to make the final move to Massachusetts.  We were about to embark on our 12 hour drive.  The fighting fish were in the back seat.  They did rather well, didn't make a peep the whole way.  I grew tired half way through the drive, as I usually do and we stopped at Grandma's Bed & Breatfast in Frackville PA, as we usually do, to spend the night. 

The fish were so quiet the whole way, so quiet that we actually forgot about the fish! 

The next morning we came out and the water was no longer water - it was ice!  The fish quite frozen.  Frozen solid actually, frozen into the ice.   Poor fishies - I hope they went quickly.

Once we got to our desitination, we had to have a funeral for the fish!

 


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 3:31 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 16 July 2006 6:52 PM EDT
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Friday, 14 July 2006
Clearly a Chrissie Moment #3

 

We have another "Clearly a Chrissie" moment folks!  This truly going to have to become a category on my blog.

I have just been informed by Kevin that my butterfly is actually a moth!  So much for my insightful transforming butterfly!

LMAO


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 12:47 PM EDT
Updated: Friday, 14 July 2006 12:55 PM EDT
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My Butterfly

 

Today I was visited by this beautiful butterfly.  It was one of those wonderful, special, back-to-nature moments that occasionally will spring up in one's life. 

I took this finding as symbolic and it was truly an amazing moment. 

The butterfly  was perched below my next step, just sitting on the concrete, in my work parking lot. 

As usual, I'm wondering the meaning behind this visit and according to the animal totems a butterfly symbolizes a moment of transformation.

I guess that would be pretty fitting for me.  Most of my life has been about transformation & change!   

Butterfly - The butterfly represents transformation and the ability to accept change.

 

 


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 12:54 AM EDT
Updated: Friday, 14 July 2006 1:38 AM EDT
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Thursday, 13 July 2006
13 Things I'd Rather be doing than leaving for work in 1 hour and 15 minutes
Topic: 13 Thursday

 

1. Working a day shift job, I'm really not liking this 3-11 shift much at all. I stay awake too late after work and end up sleeping through my mornings.

2. Going to Bottom Creek or Thunderstruck and swimming in the mountain water! It sure is a hot & muggy day today!

3. Enjoying a vacation in Massachusetts, like my friend Becky

4. Reading the comments on my blog entry about Dylan's wedding, but unfortunately I can't because although I know there are comments there, the "View Comments" link will not show up.... Tripod has been having problems with comments for about a month now. After a week of going back and forth with them about this, here was my response to my issue: Thank you for notifying us of the troubles you're having. Our engineering team is currently evaluating the root cause of the issue that you're experiencing, and will hopefully have it resolved as soon as possible. We ask you to remain patient during this time, and hope to have it resolved very shortly. That is the most "canned" response I've ever gotten.

5. Cross-stitching & Watching my favorite televisions shows.

6. Sending resumes for a new job, which I plan to do, if i ever get the time to sit down and look.

7. Looking for a house for rent, which I also plan to do, if I ever get the time to sit down and look.

8. Mowing the lawn on the rider, one of my favorite things, and the lawn is needing it too.

9. Having a Hula Hoop contest!

10. Reading other 13 Thursdays, including my Mom's, her first one!

11. Reading my book. I haven't really gotten into a good book in a long time. I usually fall asleep before I get finished with a page. But this one is great, it's The Cell, by Stephen King.


12. Shopping, always fun, if I had any money that is!

13. Thinking of more things I'd rather be doing....


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 1:39 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 30 November 2006 8:27 AM EST
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Sunday, 9 July 2006
Fun 4 All!
The wedding was excellent! The day was georgeous - about 75 degree's with no humidity. There was a crisp, freshness in the air - a wonderful start for the bride and groom. Lilac was her color and the church was decorated simply but beautifully. A video showed scenes from Dylan & Alexis' childhood, bringing tears to many sets of eyes. Six Bridesmaids & Six Groomsman walked the aisle first, followed by a flowergirl sprinkling purple petals, making way for a beautiful bride. Dylan waited at the alter for his bride to appear...

She joined her husband at the alter and they lovingly exchanged vows. The bride got all chocked up as she softly spoke her words of love to her husband, then they were pronounced Man & Wife.




Then off to the reception! It was held at a banquet room at the Holiday Inn. The food, buffet style, was delicious. Ham & Roastbeef with all the fixings and the spirits were flowing.















There were toasts made by Dylan's brother & Alexis' sister and clinking of crystal for an occasional kiss to be shared by the bride & groom.

Colleen, Dylan's mother and my aunt, was just glowing with pride. As she danced with her son you could see it in her eyes....




The music divine, we all boggied down!






It was such fun and as usual we all made up one... there's nothing quite like our "Redman" clan and our family get togethers.














Not everyone could be there, it's not often we can get everyone together, but of course everyone was with us in spirit.


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 7:26 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 9 July 2006 7:52 PM EDT
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Saturday, 8 July 2006
Wedding Day

My cousin Dylan is getting married today. We have to be at the church in about an hour and a half and my daughter is in the shower, anticipating putting on her new dress and heels. She got a gorgeous new dress while in Massachusetts, pictures to follow tomorrow.

I still remember my cousin Dylan as the little boy he was. When I was 18 I went to live with Colleen, Josh & Dylan. The boys were still young, I think Dylan was around 6 maybe? I lived with them for about a year and did get pretty close to both boys. I remember reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe stories together and I remember all of us sitting on Colleen's bed while she read us The Trumpeter and The Swam or perhaps it was Stuart Little?

Years later, I was living in Roanoke and I would bump into Dylan quite often. He seemed to spend a lot of time at the mall. I would see him and we would hug quickly, say hello and go our separate ways. I was always amazed that this person was Dylan. Long hair and a long goatee - he seemed so "cool" and he probably was.

When my aunt, Colleen, approached me with Dylan's engagement pictures, when they were trying to pick out which to use, I was floored.

Time sure flies and now it's time to go have fun, at his wedding!

Posted by chrisseas-corner at 2:28 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 8 July 2006 2:33 PM EDT
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Friday, 7 July 2006
Homecoming

Samantha has arrived home. She, my mother & Oz traveled overnight. They left at midnight and arrived this afternoon. Samantha claimed she was going to stay up all night during the drive, but according to Mom she was out like a light within an hour on the road. We met in Roanoke and they followed me to their hotel. It was so good to see Sami's bright, smiling face!



I had really missed her a lot. She had a fabulous time and I'm always very happy for her to build wonderful memories. But... I'm always glad to get her back too!


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 4:21 PM EDT
Updated: Friday, 7 July 2006 4:28 PM EDT
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Thursday, 6 July 2006
From the 4th

I'm hoping everyone had an excellent 4th of July!

Our day started a little late. Kevin & I slept until noon, something I've been doing a lot lately now that I work until 11:30 pm & usually don't fall asleep until about 3 or 4 am. We didn't actually have any solid plans, only that we were going to leave Roanoke (where Kevin lives) and head up on the mountain, to visit Becky's crew and Kev's dads. The goal being getting out of the city and away from the crowds.

Foodlion was the first stop, buying Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Marshmallows, Watermelon, Beer & Wine, as planned. The fireworks tent in the Walmart parking lot called to us with big "Buy One Get One Free" signs! This, in fact, turned out to be a lie. The sale was only for a few select items - with an emphasis on "few". But thats ok, everyone knows the scams that take place under those "Big-top" tents... be it fireworks, revivals or a rip-off circus. We wanted some fireworks though and managed to be talked into buying the largest pack they had. This one here:









It would be worth it in the long run. The 4th is the 4th, after all and the kid's would love it! I was a little bummed that Samantha was going to miss our big bang. Sami will be home tomorrow, but that will be tomorrow's story!










We decided to take the Parkway all the way to Becky's, a longer drive, but very relaxed with wonderful views of the countryside. Becky sent me a text message warning us of two big storms headed our way. Knowing me means knowing how much I love storms and knowing how absolutely cool the drive up the mountain was! We skirted the first storm, by about a mile and not purposely, it was just the way the road wound. Luckily we were able to watch that mighty storm as we climbed the mountain. The second storm we hit, bullseye! I loved every minute of it! Wind and torrential downpours, theres nothing like it! Driving through was exactly that, and on the otherside a bright, sunny, hot 4th of July! We enjoyed the contrast at the Beaver Dam Overlook - with the storm still in view behind us, where we had come from.










We arrived at the house and Becky was taking the shish-kabobs off the grill - ready to eat! They came at the perfect time and Kevin munched on a few plates of dinner. The veggie's, the best part, were mouthwatering - another one of my loves; mushrooms, onions, peppers & cherry tomatoes scorched over a grill!

The kid's wanted the fireworks; there was no waiting for dark to fall. Kevin was like a kid with candy and couldn't wait either so we lit "just a few" to tide us over until dark.




Ruby jumped at the works, trying to eat them!




For dessert, Becky's son settled for mini-marshmallows grilled over a mini-flame. He waited patiently for the sun to go down and for the real bon-fire.





We sat on the front lawn and chit-chatted for awhile, eventually deciding to try to play a game of Balderdash, my favorite board game & a recent find at Goodwill for only $2.00!


It was fun, but the rain quickly followed, another one of those awesome storms! The rain came and came and came some more, actually raining out the fireworks and the bon-fire we had planned for dusk. Porch-ridden kids and sparklers eventually equaled a bunch of soaking wet kids and Kevin!




Posted by chrisseas-corner at 6:48 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 6 July 2006 8:29 PM EDT
Tuesday, 4 July 2006
Average American


Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone is having a terrific and safe holiday.
So how "Average American" are you? According to my score I'm only 60%.
Even so, I'm going out to have a great 4th anyway and hope you do too!


Please comment and let me know your American percentage!



You Are 60% "Average American"



You are average because you drink on occasion.



You are not average since you don't donate to charity.


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 1:55 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 4 July 2006 2:04 PM EDT
Monday, 3 July 2006
Kong
Well yesterday was another relaxing day. It was HOT HOT HOT outside and we agreed on staying in the AC again. Kevin and I went to Walmart to buy a few more DVD's. The way I see it, you might as well buy them for 10.00 vs. renting. Plus, what would you pay to see the movie in the theaters? More than we can buy the DVD for, I'll tell you that.
We bought King Kong, The Game & Crash. King Kong was pretty good - funky graphics - amazing that computers made most of it. I actually fell in love with him - just like the blonde girl in the movie. The Game, which is an older movie, was good too - freaky good. We haven't watched Crash yet. And there was no moonshine this time either. Although Kevin probablly could have used some.

While we were watching Kong we found out that Kevin's grandmother passed away yesterday. I have never met her. She lives in Alabama. Apparently she was still very spunky in her old age and I picture her alot like my Nana Redman. His G-mom had fallen sometime last week and was sent home with some pain medication. She had some sort of a side effect to the pain medication and they brought her back to the hospital. She passed away after having a stroke in the hospital, while checking on the side effect problem. It's shocking and reminds me a lot of how I lost my Grandfather. He was very "with it" too and due to a car accident was brought into the hospital and never left. Anyway - the funeral is Thursday and as of right now I don't think he (or myself for that matter) will be making the trip down to Alabama. I wish he would, I think he needs to go! May God be with his entire family. I have complete sympathy having been there many times, recently, myself.

Posted by chrisseas-corner at 1:53 PM EDT
Sunday, 2 July 2006
Hooch

It's Sunday already - the weekend is flying... Yesterday Kevin and I just hung out and watched movies. We bought a few DVD's at Walmart. We watched Sleepers, which was an excellent movie and The Last Samurai, another excellent movie! Oh and we sipped on a little moonshine throughout. Moonshine is actually pretty darn good, as hard as that might be to believe. This one was made with Strawberries (they use all sorts of fruits). Just one little sip and you can feel it in your belly like you drank a nip of whiskey. I tried to eat a strawberry too but it made me gag - just way too *saturated in alcohol. We live next to the Moonshine capital of the world "Franklin County" so it's not too hard of a thing to find. I think it's actually very healthy for you because it is pure.

*This reminded me of a funny story. Becky and I got an apartment together in our late teens. She made me a rum cake for my birthday (I think it was mine but might have been someone elses) and she used a whole 5th of Rum in the cake. I don't think the recipe called for quite that much rum, but we didn't know any better. Boy was that an intoxicating cake! LOL! The Strawberries last night tasted alot like her cake. Oh and after we decided against finishing the cake, the dog did, and seemed to enjoy it... but he was stumbling all over the place. I bet he had a bad hangover the next day!

I found a few interesting tidbits of "moonshine" trivia while doing a little web searching.

This one is from http://www.answers.com/topic/moonshine

Moonshine is the making of whiskey surreptitiously and illegally. Because the activity of distilling whiskey unlawfully was usually done at night under the light of the moon, the word became both a verb, meaning making the liquor, and a noun, meaning the liquor that was made. The reason it is done at night, and usually somewhere away from houses and buildings, is that the distillation process requires heat to boil the alcoholic liquor from the "mash," so it produces a considerable amount of smoke and steam, which can be visible for a great distance if it is done outdoors in the daytime. The fire can be seen at night if the still is not set up inside a building or somewhere hidden by rocks and/or trees, but buildings (and caves) are not considered as safe as outdoor locations, in case of a raid by the law enforcement authorities (or competition).
Some "shiners", as they were called, made a firebox out of stones or bricks, to keep the flames contained while concealing them, and to keep the still off the ground. Quite often, a dry creek bed was employed, particularly in Florida. Many stills were mainly made of copper, which is considered helpful in maintaining a good taste in distilled liquor. A shiner would often make his own still.
Selling moonshine or legally-made alcohol in an illegal manner is "bootlegging". One person may perform both functions. A U.S. synonym for moonshine is hooch, a word apparently borrowed into English ca. 1867 from the Hoochinoo tribe of Alaska, noted for its homemade liquor. White lightning, mountain dew, stumpholewater, liquid stumpblaster, mule-kick, and white mule are also attested.
History of moonshining in Appalachia
Appalachia, generally the rural region of the United States in the vicinity of the Appalachian Mountains, has a history of small-scale whiskey production as part of its culture.
The production of whiskey in this area predates the federal taxation of alcoholic beverages. For farmers in remote parts of the country, it was a way to turn their corn into quick cash when grain prices were down. The imposition of a tax on whiskey was considered an unwanted federal intervention and was largely ignored. The Department of the Treasury sent special agents — "revenuers" — to prosecute unlawful distilling. Gun battles sometimes occurred when revenuers arrived to enforce the tax. Those battles are often referred to as the Whiskey Rebellion.
The grain used to make the mash, which is the mixture of grain, sugar, water, and yeast that ferments to produce the alcohol, is virtually always corn, so the product is "corn liquor" (also known as "corn whiskey"), sometimes called "mountain dew" because it appears overnight, or simply "shine". (The clear, potent (i.e. high-proof) liquor is also called "white lightning" because of its effect, or "kick".) Today, commercial hog chow is often used, because it is primarily corn and readily available, and more importantly because buying it in the quantities required is a normal part of farming operations and thus does not attract the attention of law enforcement. Other corn-based animal feeds can be used instead, and differences in the other ingredients in the feed impart slightly different flavors to the finished product. Ordinary white sugar is often the chief ingredient of moonshine mash, in which case the spirit distilled is technically a rum rather than a whiskey.
The federal authorities who police moonshining are traditionally termed "revenuers" because they historically worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), which was part of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service until July 1972, when it became a separate bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury. When the Department of Homeland Security was created in 2003, most of BATF was moved to the new agency, but alcohol enforcement remained in Treasury, handled by the new Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
Handling shipments of moonshine is often called "Ridge-Running", "Whiskey-Running", or simply "running" it, by analogy to "rum-running," which originally meant smuggling rum by ship.
Finding old moonshine stills in the backwoods of the mountains and piedmont area of North Carolina is not uncommon. Wilkesboro and Wilkes County in particular were well known for its moonshining operations. The first NASCAR event -- an offshoot of moonshine runners' hopped up cars -- was held at the short track in Wilkesboro. Some towns embrace their moonshine background such as Stokesdale, North Carolina [1] which has a moonshine still on its town seal.
Franklin County, Virginia is known as the Moonshine Capital of the world, although any remote locale in the Appalachian mountains or the US South could probably lay claim to that title.
Moonshine production today
Moonshine continues to be produced in the U.S., mainly in Appalachia and parts of the South. The simplicity of the process, and the easy availability of key ingredients such as a corn and sugar, make enforcement a difficult task. However, the huge price advantage that moonshine once held over its "legitimate" competition legally sold has been reduced. Nevertheless, over half the retail price of a bottle of distilled spirits typically consists of taxes. Many of those who buy moonshine do so for the thrill of obtaining and consuming an illicit product and as a defiance of authority. Also, the number of jurisdictions which ban the sale of alcoholic beverages is steadily decreasing. This means that many of the former consumers of moonshine are much nearer to a legal alcohol sales outlet than was formerly the case. Moonshining is far from totally over, but is certainly far less widespread than was the case decades ago. For individual moonshiners, with purchase of cheap refined white sugar, moonshine can be produced at a small fraction of the price of heavily taxed and legally sold distilled spirits. This alcohol is also used for some for herbal tinctures.


And this... from The story of Moonshine

INGREDIENTS:
(This recipe for one sack pot, or 100 gallons)
One nice cold *branch* in a secluded area
100 Gallons of water
1 Sack of bran
10 pounds of yeast
100 pounds of sugar
2 good men and a TASTER

Daddy said the first thing you gotta do is find a good, secluded branch. (A branch is a small stream of water). This 'branch' should be a good ways out into the woods and away from people, yet accessible to a vehicle. Next, you need 2 good men and one taster. Now daddy and his friend used Leroy. Leroy loved shine and took the job for free just to get to do all the tasting. By the time the shine was finished and needed toting, Leroy didn't mind that hike back to the truck at the top of the hill, cause he was always more than a jug full. Leroy passed on a long time ago, so if you're seriously thinking of making shine, find your own Leroy!

Daddy explained to me next how to build the 'still'. But I won't go into that, cause it's a lengthy and complicated endeavor. He did use words like... BIGO pot, airtight, steamline, thumper, condenser and truck radiator. I couldn't decide if daddy was building a 'still' or repairing a car. The end result was 120% pure alcohol! Daddy said they would line up as many jugs as they could find on the bank beside the branch and fill em up. Course this was after 5 or 6 days, depending on the weather and how fast the shine fermented.

The jug filling wasn't as simple as pouring it up either. The first jug would be pure alcohol. So what they did was go down the line and fill each jug only half full. Then they'd do what they called a 'turn-back' and start at the other end and finish filling the jugs.

The next part was getting all those jugs to the truck. They had to be toted! Usually the chosen branch was down under a hill, which meant toting a good many jugs uphill. I can't imagine they felt too much pain though, since they did a goodly amount of tasting as they filled up the jugs!

Daddy didn't say, but I imagine the next step was the 'distributing ' of the shine. All in all... it seems like a lot of hard work to me and one heck of a headache :)


SO THERE'S YOUR HISTORY LESSON FOR THE DAY!

Posted by chrisseas-corner at 2:42 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 2 July 2006 3:11 PM EDT
Saturday, 1 July 2006
Go to the Head of the Class


Not me. I've been held back.

Last week I got the "PAW" award at work. Pride, Ambition, Winner! It was the best award you can get - the last of four that had been given out during training.

I've been held back.

Today we graduated from training. I got my diploma and was the only one in my class to get another award, a Customer Service Award and a "D-Dollar" (once you get a certain amount you can take an extra day off or use it for a "jeans" day etc)

I've been held back.

So all this sounds wonderful right? Right! I agree.

But there is such a thing called "QA". Your calls get periodically recorded and they grade you based on what "QA" calls a "few" criteria. Actually what it's based on is bullshit. One little mistake and you get an F - a big fat bold letter F.

I got an F on four of my six calls for the following reasons:

1. I forgot to verify a name on a credit card.

2. I told a customer to swap receivers yet didn't tell the customer to run a test before calling us back (although I didn't even know nor did the "web" tell me to tell them this).

3. A client's account was locked for a fraud type deal and although at the end of the call they were going to have to wait until morning to call the fraud number, I was still supposed to troubleshoot, even though I couldn't access any of the appropriate screens or actually do anything for this customer. After my "coach" told me what to do and I did what they said, I still rec. an F.

4. We have a list of about 8 disclosures we have to tell the customer and I didn't read the last disclosure. I did the first 7 and got interrupted and never went back to #8 - telling them that someone 18 yrs or older had to be home for work to be performed, even though I specifically knew that the man would be home.

Regardless of how happy the customer was at the end of the conversation, an F is required, because of the above. I could have gotten a compliment and I still would have gotten an F.

So now I have to stay another week in "transition POD" (along with 5 out of 12 others) - which....

ACTUALLY IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

I get the holiday weekend AND the 4th off (paid), I only have to Monday.

and - I get to stay with the rest of my friends.

HA - Is all I have to say!

Posted by chrisseas-corner at 1:38 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 1 July 2006 1:46 AM EDT
Thursday, 29 June 2006
Thirteen Random Thoughts
Topic: 13 Thursday

1. It's been a long time since I've done a TT.

2. It's already 10 pm, so chances are I won't get a chance to visit many this time... which to me is the fun of it!

3. Has anyone been watching the new show Windfall - it's about a bunch of people who went in on a lottery ticket and won! It's a great show! Is on right now. I watched it last week too and am already addicted!

4. Here is my horoscope for today: Aries: If you've been toying at all with the idea of doing something creative or artistic, this would probably be a good time to start doing something about it. And if you find yourself feeling a little frustrated, you might want to take some time to examine a few of your friendships and romantic arrangements right now.

5. I randomly shot some pictures w/my cell phone on the way down the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon. I stuck my arm out the window, while driving, and just snapped away. The photo's, which came out rather cool are posted as #'s 6 - 9. 6.


7.


8.


9.


 

10. So.... aren't those pictures really cool?

11. I am off of work on July 4th! I thought I was going to have to work, being a newby and all, but it just so happens to be my scheduled day off!

12. Only two more random thoughts to come up with.

13. Here's a funny, but true, thought. My daughter is taking a vacation from her vacation. She is going to Maine for the 4th of July weekend with a friend of hers family.


Posted by chrisseas-corner at 11:07 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 30 November 2006 8:30 AM EST

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