Say it ain't so.

Looks like my grandkids are going to have to migrate north by the year 2100. I know they will inherit from me a HUGE problem with what may come. Click to to read why.

Yeaaah boooooy

Aw. Look how teeny tiny Zoey was! I came across this picture today and had to share (she says with a tear in her eye). They grow so fast, don't they? Weekend update:
*Got to see Chandle and David!
*Joe is heading back to New Zealand, (yeah, click on the link, it will brighten your day, I mean it) so we had to say farewell to him this weekend
*Got to celebrate Trevor's bday! Happy birthday to him!
*Got to see Kristen and JR's new house (spoiler alert: it's a cute one! Hoooooray for them! Congrats! I loved it!)
*Our old youth group director, Brenda, is leaving CLS, so we went to a dinner for her last night. She took us allllllll over the place in high school (and slightly beyond high school...) from Toronto to south o' the border. She will be missed greatly.
*Got to eat lunch with my old CLS yearbook crew on Saturday. It was really nice to visit. And even nicer to not share a deadline with them! ;)
*Oh yeah, I filed my taxes on Friday. Sigh.. that feels better. Ugh, I hate it so. But I'm gettin' some mooooooolah back.

Overall, goooooood any busy weekend! My week is not quite as busy as it has been the past few, so gimme a hollar. I'm around! ;)

Wine o' the week

From the website...
Casillero del Diablo offers wine lovers the very special opportunity to participate in the propagation of a century old legend known throughout the world. In the 19th century, the founder of Concha y Toro, Don Melchor, discovered that his vineyard workers were sampling his greatest wines. To discourage this action, Don Melchor spread the rumor that his deepest, darkest cellar was the Casillero del Diablo (Cellar of the Devil), so that no one would dare go in there. It worked, and a legend was born. Today, this mysterious and legendary cellar continues to hold the finest, estate grown wines of Casillero del Diablo.

We've tried two of them, and this is the one we like best (they're both cheap- around $10!)

CARMÉNÈRE

	Region:	Rapel Valley, Chile
	Grape Varieties:	85% Carménère, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah
	Production Technique:	The grapes are hand and mechanically harvested. 70% of the wine is aged in American oak for 8 months, 30% is aged in stainless steel for 8 months.
	Description:	Color: Dark and deep crimson red. Bouquet: Luscious fruit flavors: Dark plums and chocolate with hints of coffee and toasty American oak. Taste: Notes of dark plums and spice, generously framed by toasty American oak with a soft and well structured mouthfilling texture. Alcohol Content: 14.0% Total Acidity: 4.82g/l
Dark red crimson color. Notes of plums, black fruit, chocolate and spice on the nose. It is a well-balanced, round wine with firm tannins. Casillero del Diablo Carménère is excellent with fresh light dishes based in meats, vegetables and fresh herbs. Also a good accompaniment to ripe cheeses such as Gouda, Gruyere or a dry goat cheese.

Mmm, Gouda- my tummy just growled. Gimme Gouda.

Well, that figures

This is me after I got my test back today. Just kidding- this is me in NOLA after tasting the Hand Grenade. But seriously, 79% on that beast, folks. That's alllllllllllmost a B, so I feel pretty ok with it. I was one of the higher grades, and I think that should tell you something about the test. ICK. Now I know and will use that knowledge to beat the next test into submission. Niner.

I'm alive... barely

Just wanted to check in and let you know that I'm here... and breathing... Is it REALLY only Tuesday? This week has been killer, perhaps because preparation for this week began last Thursday. I emerged from the studies only long enough to go see Big Smith on Saturday at the Rev Room. I had never seen them live before, and it was great. Exactly what I needed. A washboard-bluegrass-good-ol-time.
Today I took perhaps the hardest test of my lifetime (regular test, I mean). Here are your choices:
a.)
b.)
c.)
a and b)
b and c)
a, b, and c)
or none

Yeeeeaaaaaaooooow. I can't do those... Reminds me of Dr. Owen's biology class my first year of undergrad (did my eye just twitch??). By the time multiple choice was over, I could just barely make it through the essay portion.
I did it to myself folks. I brought it all on myself (school full-time again). ;)

Wine makes a comeback!

Wine o' the week has taken a backseat in the past few months due to all that dang studying I've been doing. FORTUNATELY, wine has not taken a backseat in my life. ;) SouthBeach has "forced" (oh, I'm kickin' and screamin') me to get back into it. So here we go again! I've got quite an arsenal... This week's wine- Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (a berfday gift from my sister)!

*85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah (California's way of saying "shiraz")
*Rich in color with dark cherry, black currant, and chocolate notes
*Pair it with cheese, pasta with red sauce, steak, ribs, and that leftover V-day chocolate that you have.
*Very reasonably priced and very very tasty- I think I like almost all of them that have "chocolate notes"... Makes the color really dark and the flavor fantastic! Enjoy!
*PS, they also have a Sauvignon Blanc, which I will be looking for very soon. ;)

NASP and NOLA and ChandleDavid

I have returned to the great state of Arkansas safely! Wednesday through Friday I attended the school psychology conference in New Orleans, and then after that visited Chandle and David in Baton Rouge (I didn't take ONE picture, I can't believe it. Horrible person.). Had a BLAST and am completely worn out now. SO glad I got to see Chandle and David, though!!! Their house is beautiful and they got themselves a nice little town down there! Here are some pics from NOLA.... This one is in one of the cemetaries, and I really liked the way it came out.
The first night, we went on a ghost tour ($16, I highly recommend it). Some of the stories were a little weak, but THIS ONE freaked me out. If you're feeling brave, you can read (sort of) about it here. I don't care what you say, I see an ORB! There are lots in the pictures I took of this house but none of the other pictures..... (check it on facebook) and they are in different places. I swear. Call me a believer! Regardless, this story freaked me out. ;)

Dinner at the House of Blues.... I ate a trillion po'boys this past week (there goes my diet). Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

And you get one picture of Bourbon St. Not quite as crazy as the time I went in '03 (with my ladies), but fun nevertheless.

Now on to some craaaaaaaazy weeks for school.... if you don't hear from me, it's because I'm buried in schoolwork. Call me. ;)

Hey, kids

Whew! LOTS of stuff going on! Sorry I have been slightly absent from the blogosphere, I shall try to do better! Here's a list:
*A very very happy (only slightly belated) birthday to the fabulous Miss Leah! I hope you had a great one, even if working! Much much love!
*This weekend we went camping at White Rock in the NWA (Northwest AR, for those of you who aren't on the up-and-up). These are pics from that excursion. The weather was awesome- not too cold at all while sleeping! The dogs loved it, as evidenced by the last doggies-passed-out-picture.
*School is reallllly kicking into gear. Good Lord, I have a million things due in the next couple weeks! Eeeeeeeeeek!
*I am leaving on Wednesday to head to New Orleans! It is the day after Fat Tuesday, yes, but that's not my reason for going (I swear)- it's a National Association of School Psychologists (of which I am a member) conference. We'll be there through the weekend then Jeremy is meeting me and we'll visit Chandle and David over the weekend in Baton Rouge!
*SPEAKING of David and Chandle.... while we were in NWA, we stopped in Siloam Springs for a reception her folks put on for her (pictures below). We even got to see V for a minute. Great times!

Congrats to Chandle and David!

Chandle's grandmama made them a wedding cake and a groom's cake. Super cute- my favorite part is that the groom's cake has Rocky's face on it. ;)

Awww.... yay! Congrats, you guys! Love to you both!!