Halloween Festivities

A couple of weekends ago, we decided it was time to head out to the local pumpkin patch for some fun, and of course to find our pumpkins...

We went to the local Old Baker Farm to see what they had to offer.
Not only did they have the pumpkin fields, but they had a petting zoo. We made the effort of going through the zoo before heading out to the fields. Goats, chickens, turkeys, and pigs.
Of course we got our picture taken before getting on the hay ride out to the fields...In our quest for the perfect pumpkin, we determined this one was not it...
Bethany decided we needed to "decorate" the front of the house this year. So her halloween tree came out, which we decorated with the collected pumpkins. Then of course we put up our creepy spider web.
We spent the other night finally carving our pumpkins and getting them ready to show. We spread out drop cloths throughout the living room, and had a carving party. Heads were cut, innards removed, saws were used, and the results were some pretty cool pumpkins.

From the left: carved by me, carved by our friend Michael, carved by his wife Kym, and carved by Bethany.
And sitting on the porch, welcoming the trick-or-treaters...

The best part, we won't even be here for halloween... We'll be traveling to visit family. So, after all the work, the decorations will be coming down Friday evening/Saturday morning and taken with us when we travel.

Roll Tide

Dad and I went to the Alabama vs. Tennessee game over the 10/24 weekend. In case you missed it, this is how it ended:

Both teams played pretty pathetic during most of the game. Turned out the last 4minutes were the most exciting part. Tennessee had scored and was threatening to ruin Alabama's perfect season (so far). Well, that is until they were forced to attempt a 45yrd field goal against Alabama's line.

Note the big guy, #62. He stands close to 6'5" and weights in at 364lbs. He blocked two field goals, including this one to seal the win.

Final: Alabama 12, Tennessee 10.

Locked out

Lately, I've been a bit of a slouch when it comes to my workouts and sooner or later it's going to catch up. The excuses that I've made up have been quite interesting and all it's doing it prolonging the agony for when I return.

Today was the day I returned. I decided I'd go to the local gym and get a lunchtime swim in, just to show myself how much I've lost and where I'd be when I decided to return. A simple 2000yrd (1.14mi) was pretty tough today. Usually that'd be a piece of cake, but it wasn't.

Moral: I can't continue skipping workouts.

Well, after the swim, I had about 15mins to change and make it back to the office, since I was on my lunch break. This is where the fun really started. I went to my locker, used the combination, and it wouldn't open. Tried again and failed. Tried a different series of numbers and still failed.

I started to panic. Suddenly, I remembered the combination was sitting in the console of my truck, just lying out in the open. All I needed to do was go and look at it. But, I was standing there in sandals and a swimsuit. Man the looks I probably got as I ran out the front door to spy into my truck.

Combination in mind, I managed to get into the locker and get dressed and back to work. A few minutes late, but at least I made it.

Next time I guess I ought to memorize that combination better...

A few more photos

I think I took too many photos while in Sipsey. Enjoy

Fall Creek Falls. Some of the leaves are finally turning and showing the cooler weather.

The wilderness was full of different types and sizes of fungus. Absolutely gorgeous.

Nothing beats random waterfalls from the back of nowhere. During wet seasons, this place comes alive and you can't help but find them everywhere.

Toward the end of the trip, we passed through Johnson's Cemetary. The East cemetary is known for the abundance of flowers adorning the grave sites. We found several sites with dates simply etched in them, and some with more elaborate decorations. Almost a little chilling. Two in particular were 1866-1934 & 1868-1907.

Amazing how slow the color changing is going. Some trees wouldn't know it was getting cold, while others were pretty quick to turn. Guess that's what adds to the wilderness so much.

Photos from the woods

Just a few snapshots from our backpacking adventure through the woods.

Bethany and her very pink hat.
One of the several rock out croppings along the trail.
Fall Creek Falls was flowing quite nicely this time of year. All the rain we've been having has really helped.
To avoid a late afternoon river crossing, we decided to cross the river on a downed tree. This did cut out some of our scenery, but that was fine. It was better to miss a few sights than to get wet late in the afternoon. Plus it was cold and not really high on our priority list.
The fungus was out in high quantities too.

Some leaves are changing, some are dropping without changing, and well, some, just haven't changed yet.

Overall, a great weekend of hiking, camping, and being outside. Time to start planning the next one...

Heading to the Woods

I've convinced Bethany to head out with me and a group of Boy Scouts for a weekend backpacking trip in the Sipsey Wilderness, which ought to prove to be awesome! We'll be meeting up with part of the scout troop, getting the dogs outside for some much needed trail time, and enjoying the weekend.

It it all goes to plan, it should go something like this

Fri - Hit the trail just after dark. Hike a few miles, find a site, and sleep like a baby.

Sat - Wake. Drink coffee. Hike 10-12 miles, see the sights, find camp, and sleep like a baby.

Sun - Wake. Drink coffee. Hike 2-3 miles, find the car, and head home.

The scouts need 15 miles and 2 consecutive nights in the backcountry to get some of the requirements done. This ought to do it!

Oh, and our weather couldn't be any better: HIGHS mid 50s, LOWS high 30s.

We'll be seeing you when we get back...

Almost Lost It

It's been a possibility, but this weekend it became a reality. A reality that had the both of us a little worried and a whole lot concerned. For a while now, my wedding ring has been a little big. I've lost some weight, and apparently stored most of it in my fingers. Anytime there was a remote possibility of losing my ring, I've been taking it off to be careful.

Friday it never crossed my mine, until I noticed it NOT on my finger!

I was heading to take the dogs to the vet for their yearly shots, when I noticed. I grabbed the steering wheel, put the truck in reverse, and realized something felt "odd". Looking down at my hand, I noticed why. My ring wasn't there. Panic set in.

Before getting out of the driveway, I proceeded to check the obvious places:
- I changed clothes. Nope, not on the floor, not in my pants pocket.
- I took it off Thursday night to cook. Nope, not on the window sill or the key rack.
- It's loose so it could've come off at night. Nope, not on the floor around the bed, under the bed, in the pillow, or in the sheets.
- I take it off on the way to the gym and put it in my truck. Nope.
- I got gas. Maybe it fell off in the door of the truck when I stashed the receipt. Nope.

Well, I continued on to the vet, trying to think about where it could've been. As I sat there, I ran through every possible place and was determined to find it. I had made my plan for when I got home.
- I put down bed sheets in the truck to contain the dog hair. It could've fallen into there. I looked when I unloaded the dogs and didn't see it.
- I put more "stuff" into our donations box in the garage. Nope, not there either.
- Could be in the gym bag. Nope, not there. By the way, my gym bag is starting to reek!
- Maybe it fell off at work. Nope, not on my desk, under my desk, in the trash can, or around anywhere I went at work.

Ok, so now, panic is really setting in. I knew it could and would get lost, just because it has gotten quite big. And I had every intention of resizing it, I just haven't done it yet.

I made the call to Bethany to tell her and have her start coming up with places to look. She does, and when she gets home, we continue looking.
- Not in the cushions of the couch, under the couch or on the floor.
- Again, not on the key rack in the kitchen.
- Not in the garbage disposal.
- Not under the dressers in the bedroom.
- Not in the trash can.

Well, after spending a while looking, we both took a break. Plus it was getting late, and we had a race the next morning. The whole night, I kept retracing my steps, thinking about where it could be. Saturday we did ALL of the laundry in the house, just in case if fell in the hamper. Again, nothing.

Of and on Saturday and Sunday, we kept looking.

Bethany finally had the idea of checking the grass along the driveway and my truck one last time. I was to check the sheets and plastic that I put in the truck one more time. After that, we were out of choice. Off she goes to the truck and grass with a flashlight, and off I go to the pile of sheets. I picked up the first sheet and within moments, we both heard the cling of the ring on the concrete.

After searching all weekend, we finally found it. Our best guess is that it slipped off when tucking the sheets inbetween the seats of the truck. And being fitted sheets, the ring probably got tangled up in one of the little corners.

So, now that I got lucky once, there's not taking a second chance. I stopped by the jewler on Monday to drop it off for resizing. We measured and it's being resized from a 10.5 down to an 8.5. The best part, the 8.5 is still a little large, but snug...

The FUN Theory

What if everyday normal activities were fun?

Great race

So, we showed up to race this morning despite the rain, and it was very well worthit!

There was a light drizzle of rain as we waited near the starting gates, but it wasn't enough to keep the participants away. We saw bib numbers up to 14700, so there were at least that many that signed up! And that doesn't count the ones that were simply there to spectate!

Very awesome.

So, during the run, I decided to take it easy and complete the run with the missus. We both ran (well I did) pretty comfortably throughout the race. It took a while for the crowd to disperse and get some running room, but once we did, it was quite nice. Nothing beats a nice run on a rainy Saturday morning.

The turnout was truly amazing. The fountain at the park had been dyed pink in support. The lamp post were wrapped in pink & white balloons. Banners flew. Crowds cheered. Survivors smiled, laughed, and walked. Supporters did the same. Kids joined in riding in strollers & wagons. It was simply amazing!

And absolute great race!

Race for the Cure

Tomorrow is race day! The missus and I will b e participating in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure here in Birmingham tomorrow. Should be an absolute blast. We've heard rumors of 10,000 people showing up (racers, supporters, and spectators), so that ought to make it "a happening place". I doubt the number is that high, but it should still be fun.

We actually joined a local running group to help get us trained up for an upcoming 10k race, and this is simply the stepping stone to get us there. We'll both be there to run, have fun, and take it easy! To make sure we're out having fun, neither of us will be timed, but will be running to enjoy it.

For those of you coming out to support, thanks! For those of you running, good luck! For those of you who are survivors, You Kick BUTT!

What a Finish!

Last weekend was the Montgomery Half Marathon and the Capitol City 5k race. Unfortunately, we didn't race, but some of our family did. And race they did!

Looking at the results, we noticed that Bethany's dad won his age group! 1st place in his age group on the 5k with a time of 24:59.0!

Way to go!

Rant: Subway

[rant]

Tonight was our late weekday run, so we settled for Subway for dinner. Usually, I have nothing wrong with Subway, but the guy at the counter pretty much destroyed it. If you've noticed, it's always cheaper to get a footlong instead of two 6inch's, especially when it's one of the $5 specials.

Well tonight, I tried my luck, and thought I'd see what I could get. It went like this:
Me: "If I get two identical 6inch subs, but different toppings, could I still price it as a 12"?"
Him: "Yea. As long as they are identical."
Me: "Great. How about 2 6"turkeys then"

Well, he builds the sandwiches just like I wanted. Great. The only differences were the final toppings and one had cheese.

When we get to the checkout, instead of him ringing it up at the $5 special, he rings up $6.60. Puzzled, I ask why it wasn't a footlong, and he proceeds to tell me they weren't identical. Well, yea, they had different toppings, but otherwise were identical. Apparently, the weren't identical, so he couldn't ring them up as a footlong.

Is a slice of cheese and three slices of tomatoes really worth the extra $1.40? Sure, it's $1.40, but still...he said he could ring it up at $5, but then suddenly couldn't? It's silly, but it made dinner that much less enjoyable...

[/rant]

I'm falling apart...

It started Friday.

I had just finished up my morning swim and was getting ready for work. I just got out of the shower and walked over to the towel rack to start drying off. Somewhere, somehow, during this someone else passed me heading to the shower. As I started drying off, I caught an elbow.

It was genuinely an accident. His elbow caught me in the bridge of the nose. It wasn't so hard that it knocked me out, and it wasn't so light that I could just brush it off either. He stopped and asked if I was alright. I was pretty sure I was. Then, I started sniffling.

We all know happens next...I started bleeding. So, there I am, in the locker room with nothing but a towel on, bleeding. I did the best I could to get to the paper towels without making so much of a mess, but it didn't happen. One towel wasn't enough, two didn't do the job, and the third was still soaking through. After more than I cared to count, it started to stop.

I continued on. Shaving. Brushing my teeth. Wiping my nose. Carefully getting dressed.

Then, as I'm getting ready to head out of the locker room, an employee comes in with his magic bucket to clean up the splatters of blood. Good thing most of it was contained. But still, sorry he had to do it.

And then on to work. It wasn't bleeding. It wasn't badly swollen. It was alright. As a matter of fact, a few hours later, it was just an accident and nothing more.

By Saturday morning, it was fine. Bethany still thinks it looked a little swollen, but I'm sure it was fine.

The day played on fine. Nothing to worry about.

It continued Sunday morning out on the golf course.

During the game, I got hit again, in the nose, by an iron. I was standing at the back of the cart retrieving a club from my bag, when suddenly, I was hit. From the best I could figure, the grip of the club got tangled in the bag, and the club came falling down. I fumbled with it, trying to catch it, but that didn't happen. Instead, the club came down on the bridge of my sunglasses. Two cuts to the nose. One from the club, the other from the glasses.

And of course, it started bleeding. Again. I used the tee towel from the bag and kept blotting off the blood inbetween plays.

Good thing it was only 9 holes and that we were over halfway done at that point. Throughout the day it was swollen and sore. And, it's hard to breathe.

That brings us to today - Monday. It's still sore. The bridge of my nose hurts. I can't breathe, and I have a headache.

Guess I ought to call the doctor just to make sure nothing's wrong internally...

The Wedding

As mentioned, we went to a beautiful wedding over last weekend.

Kymberli & Michael...

She had a typical beautiful bride's cake(red velvet):
He had the typical chocolate groom's cake(rich chocolate):
The happy bride and groom:
And a couple from the party:



It was an absolutely beautiful wedding to go to! Glad you two had fun!

No Excuses

I guess I'll have to think of some better excuses next time I don't want to wake up and go swim...