Ordinary Life

    I let my full weight fall against Burger King's heavy glass door and pushed against it. By nature a fairly passive person, I knew the door would absorb my unusually forceful shove with no loss of dignity. I even imagined it welcomed me a little. Better doors than people. (or...doors are better than people?)    We were en route to the bedside of a very sick relative and I knew we may not make it in time to say good bye.    Over the course of the morning, I had morphed into a tiny black rain cloud, prone to outbursts like thunder claps and sudden showers that washed away any semblance of "strength".     Once inside the ladies room,  I wiped away what streaked mascara could be budged and sighed a prayer of "please".    I wasn't praying for extra time. I wasn't praying to get there. I was praying for peace and that all would be well with my uncle...soul wise...you know..." It is well...it is well...with my soul ." And I wa...

On our recent anniversary/family birthday, we were able to catch up with Snow White. She was a lot of fun.  

After Riley's first visit to Disney , the weather forecast a dreary next few days, so we headed home until the weather was to improve. Using the bleak days to clear certain business matters from our plate, we were free to return when the weather was nice... and just in time to celebrate our family's seventeenth birthday (anniversary). We chose Epcot park this time- my personal favorite. Aurora was scheduled to make one appearance so we made a bee line for her pavilion once we had checked in.  We were not disappointed.

When asked what she was most looking forward to at Disney, Riley hoped to meet Princess Aurora. Everyone else agreed that watching RyeBird explore the Magic Kingdom for her first time would be the highlight of our experience. While we didn't catch Sleeping Beauty this go around, Riley hardly seemed to notice once she got inside the park.  And we enjoyed watching her have a big day every bit as much as had been anticipated...even the part where she was scared of Daisy & Minnie... a decision she made only after we waited in a considerably long line, and only once we were close enough to judge they were just too big, too real for her comfort.  At the end of the day, Rye's favorite part was "Dream Along With Mickey"- the stage show at Cinderella's castle where we all defeated Malificent by chanting 'Dreams DO Come True!" until the jilted sorceress had no choice but to storm off in a huff and puff of smoke, promising we hadn't seem the last of her... (...

Today marks the start of  Football Season @  BrewCrew Headquarters. .  Specifically Carolina Football.  (some say that's the only kind there is, but I have noticed other fellas in different costumes also having these weekend pagents)  Okay, it never actually ends...we celebrate Carolina Football in Spring and Summer too. (along with Carolina's Baseball, Basketball and Competitive Thumb Twirling if they had a team for that)   This time of year is also known to some of us as "Bring A Good Book" or "Get Stuff Done With The Comforting Sounds of Televised Football as Background Noise" or "Go Shopping" and occasionally "Roam the Stadium and Enjoy Concessions" Season.  It is a time of year we all look forward to (for various reasons).  Okay...alright...those last few are mainly me.  I like football fine- I just think there is too much of it... I prefer to tune in around the fourth quarter (after getting a few chapters read, or errands run, or a...

Chandler qualified @ ANNIKA Academy for Jr. Elite Team.  He is taking the occasional lesson there as time & travel permit. Event & First Lesson Photos:

 Back in the Spring, we went to Orlando to watch the Braves train. On the day we went, half of the team was @ the Astro's Spring facility, the other half was @ Disney's complex. We opted for the Astro's facility... nice place, they've got there.Rye & I wandered about the park after she sat in the stands the maximum amount of time a 3 year old can be expected to sit in stands of any sort. It was a great opportunity to check out the food trucks and play area surrounding the field.  

The morning of Clay's " Business Meeting " (Ahem: Golf Tournament) we roamed & roved until time to meet back up. I had long wanted to try Maple Street Biscuit Company, so when we stumbled across their new Beaches location, it was all happy anticipation. We were not disappointed. The place has atmosphere... really nice atmosphere. Above the drink station hang Mason jar lights, wire baskets line the dining area and the long sturdy tables provide plenty of sitting room for large parties. Had the Atlantic Ocean not been lapping the shore just across the road, the warmth and earthy textures coupled with the friendliness of the staff could have convinced me that I was in a mountain breakfast house. Years of family road trips to North Carolina and Tennessee have left me quite fond of such places, though I'm inclined to believe most everyone has at least a  slight breakfast bias. {Do you?} One of the benefits of having such a "shoe-full" of children is that we a...

One entry on my "Worth The Drive" list: Dukes BBQ. Other entries include: Carolina, herself, BBQ, itself and Carolina BBQ, in general- but my list is quite long, so let's just talk about Duke's today. Here are a few snaps from our recent stop at the Walterboro location:  I love silhouettes...especially of mossy trees: It's mostly about the food:  On the way in, we had encouraged Rye to take a "piggy back ride" but she only cautiously pet the piggy. She must have given it consideration throughout lunch though, because as we were leaving she asked to ride the piggy. Happy to oblige.