Myspace Blogs

Ok, so back and May I moved over a bunch of my blogs from Myspace to here, just so I could keep them. Another step in ending my Myspace account. Didn't realize there was that many and sadly, there are still some more I haven't moved. So, maybe one day. Kind of fun looking back and reading those blogs.

Myspace blog #9

Jul 25, 2006
Farmer Bec!

Ok, so maybe I'm not technically a farmer, I guess I'm just a food grower!

If you don't know, this year, after wanting to do it for some time, I finally had the opportunity to have my own garden. Yes, me, I have a garden!

With the assistance of my parents, I planted myself a garden. Not a little wimpy garden, but a full-fledged garden with corn, tomatoes, okra, onions, bell peppers, green beans (which my groundhog thoroughly enjoyed), watermelon, and cantaloupe! Que Fantastico!

So, I've already picked a couple of tomatoes. I don't eat tomatoes, but I do enjoy cooking with them. I have given some tomatoes away, which all got rave reviews. I also used one to cook, which, not to brag, but I really enjoyed it.

I've picked some onions, which were great, of course. But, yesterday, I picked four bell peppers! Beautiful green bell peppers that made a nice thud sound when I flicked them, thus allowing me to know that they were ready.

Well, I mention all of this to tell you that I'm cooking fajita's tonight for my family!!!! Yes, fajita's with my own tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers! I'm stoked! If only I was a true farmer and had a home grown chicken!!!

I was reading the free organic magazine that you can get at Publix a few weeks ago and it was talking about gardens and how it is good for kids to get involved with gardening because it teaches them discipline, responsibility, and patience. I so believe it's true.

This garden is a lot of work, every morning I have to turn the sprinkler on to water it. In the afternoons I check on it and pull any stray weeds and water the watermelons and cantaloupes because they don't get hit with the water. I have to put sivin dust on it to keep away insects and put a live trap out to catch theiving little groundhogs! So, yes, I do believe that gardening teaches you patiences, responsibility, and discipline.

Yes, I'm so proud of my garden! It's such a wonderful feeling to know that you are responsible for this living thing and that your nurturing and love made it the vegetable it is today!

So there you go, I'm a food grower. Just one more step for me to reach my goal of living on a self-sufficient organic farm one day!

Myspace blog #8

Jul 3, 2006
It's all fun and games until someone breaks their back!!!

So, the annual 2 day 16 mile trip down the Buffalo River was this weekend and only one person out of our group of 10 left the river on a backboard in the ambulance!

Actually, I'm thinking this trip was more like the, 1st day, 2 miles, 2nd day, 14 miles!

For those of you who don't know, I am the official Princess of the Buffalo! It's a hard job, but somebody's got to do it!

The trip consisted of the 3 veterans who have been on all the overnight canoe trips, me, angie, and ben. Then there was Becca, Scott, Byron, Leah, Michael, Kevin, and Jess.

Byron was the lucky duck who was my partner. As soon as we got into the water he told me to only paddle when he tells me to. And let me tell ya, I did not let him forget that he told me that! The funny thing was, is the fact that I was on the UTC crew team, so I know a lot more about paddling boats then I let on that I do.

We were team Rescue 911. I don't remeber how we got that name, but I'm pretty sure that it was because I had the whistle, which I was using continously. I think I blew it at every boat that came by us. Ben told me that after him and Becca flipped in the rapids the first image he saw was not a bright light, but me, running over rocks and through the water blowing my whistle the whole time trying to aid them. Byron, on the other hand, was mad that I bailed out of the canoe and left him to man it through the rapids by himself! But, when duty calls.....I do have to mention though, that team Rescue 911 was shut down after the true emergency involving the ambulance.

Overall, I was just making sure that people were behaving on the river, like, not going too fast, or not being too rowdy. I was also trying to control any traffic jams that we might of encountered. Meanwhile, my friends didn't think all my whistle blowing was necessary and was trying to pawn me off on all the people who we went by.

The whistle was quite handy, it also had a compass and it told the temperature. I don't think it was quite accurate, it said it was 110 degrees in Angie's house! I renamed it the hot-o-meter because it told us how hot we were. I was 110, others were about a 90....

Team Corona, which consisted of Ben and Becca, got their name due to the fact that they had decorated their boat with a corona banner. I preferred to call them Team Bud Light.

There was also Team Coochie, Team Chatty, and Team Vienna/Viagra. After team Vienna/Viagra was put out, and Leah and I took over that canoe, we renamed ourselves Team Second String.

On the second day, Michael changed my name from the Buffalo Princess to The Buffalo River Rampage! I don't understand why though......

We had a great time though on our trip. I probably won't wear any skirts for a while due to the fact that my legs are bruised and scraped up.

So, I'm sure the question is, was an ambulance really called in??? And the answer isYES!!!!

Day 2, about Mile 13, and about 3:00 we stop to jump off some clifts. We've stopped here in years past and this was no exception. By the time we got there, there were a lot of people already jumping off.

Kevin, Jess, and Scott were the only one's who scooted up the hill....I was on the ground trying to work out a deal where I traded a guy a beer for his kayak.

I saw Kevin and Jess jump and was even cheering on Jess. We had jumped the day before off another clift, but it wasn't quite as high as this one. About five minutes later I hear someone say, I think she is hurt. About that time, I looked over and saw Jess and Kevin being pulled to the side by another canoe.

Also, about this time, some people came down an access road on their 4-wheeler. We told them the deal and they ran back to their house to call 911. Luckily, Dr. Angie was there and one of the people who came down on the 4-wheeler was in nursing school. They had Jess stabalized, holding her neck and helping keeping her afloat in the water. About 15 minutes later the Waynesboro EMT people came and put her on a backboard and carried her to the stretchers and off she went.

Well, evidently she somehow hit the water and it caused 3 compressions in her back. She was transfered to Vanderbilt last night and I just talked to Kevin this morning and they most likely will do surgery on her this afternoon. I'm not 110% sure what exactly a compression is, but it isn't a break, but pretty much the same thing. Evidently, whenever she hit the water, the bottom half of her stopped, but the top of her body did not!

Obviously, it was quite scary, and put a damper on the trip. To say the least, I know 10 people who will never clift jump again! So, yeah, please keep Jess in your prayers!

I wish I could just write and write about how awesome this trip was. It was great. I love the water and just floating and hanging out. But, you know what they say....it's all fun and games until someone breaks their back

Myspace blog #7

Jun 30, 2006
It's a great day!

So, today was one of those days where I am reminded where my happiness comes from.

I woke up this morning to realize that I had no water. I couldn't figure out what was going on, but I knew that I wanted to take a shower.

So, I packed up my stuff to head to my parents house to take a shower and about the time I had my bags loaded my sister calls to ask if I had any water. She hadn't had any at her house, so she went to my parents house only to find out that they didn't have water either.

Well, I unloaded my bags and was going to brush my teeth with the trickle coming out of the faucet when I heard a noise coming from my toilet. It sounded like a monster was living in my toilet that had decided to come alive.

As I'm staring at my toilet expecting it to explode any minute, I notice that it is filling up with muggy water and I knew it was a sign that the water was coming back on.

So, I run my water for a while and realized that in fact it was back on. So, I call my sister and she comes over to take a shower and then I take one, which is good because I figured out that I can take a shower at 6:40 and be able to leave my house at my normal time of 7:10! Yay for short hair!

Well, all this time my eye was bothering me and still is, and I really didn't have time to fool with it. I put my contacts in, only to have a horrific stinging pain in my eye! I nixed the idea of contacts and just wore my glasses.

Also, at about this time, I realized that my hair straightner has decided that it wants to die, so it was no good to me.

I leave my house, all the while talking on the telephone, and I put my mail to be sent in my mailbox, but forgot to get my newspaper, which I read everyday at work. And we all know how much I love my newspaper!

As you can see, it has been a somewhat hectic morning, but I'm in the best mood! I was thinking about my circumstances this morning on my drive to work and I became thankful for them. I was reminded that my happiness comes from above, not from earthly things. I don't necessarily need a shower, my hair is still ok without being straightened, and I look just fine in glasses.

I've been very laxed in my relationship with the Lord, and it's these friendly little reminders that show me that he is still in control of my life and He is so much more wonderful than any material things that I might possess.

He is the one that makes the sun rise every morning. He is the one that gives me laughter, smiles, and a happy heart. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses, a happy heart makes the face cheerful!

The saying in Hawaii is, no rain, no rainbow. And if I have to go through rain to see the rainbow, then so be it, and I'll do it!

Plus, how can you be unhappy when you know that tomorrow is the 2 day 16 mile trip down the Buffalo! The Buffalo Princesses are back

Myspace blog #6

Jun 23, 2006
hummm....

So, I feel as if I should write in here, even though I have no clue what to write about. We all know that I'm a blog junkie, it's so much fun.

Today I had my test of Food Stamps.....I'm pretty sure I did amazing! So, quiz me, want to know if you can have food stamps?

There has been something important on my mind lately though. I'm trying to figure out if I can add "ism" to the end of every word and make myself look intelligent by using an unnecessary big word. For example, platonism or ironicism. Actually, now that I spell them out, I'm not a big fan, but nonetheless, they are still fun words to say!

Speaking of intelligent or intelligism. My hair appointment is tomorrow at 11:15, and not last Saturday at 11:15. Note to self. I'll let you all do some deductism to figure out how I realized that my hair appointment was this Saturday and not last Saturday.

Maybe instead of adding ism to the end of words to make myself seem more intelligent, I should just wear my glasses. It never fails, everytime I wear my glasses I am informed that I look smart. So, being the smart, glasses wearing individual I am, I use some deductism and came to the conclusion that every other day when I wear my contacts I look like an idiot.

So, maybe I can nix the ism idea and just start wearing my glasses.

What I am experiencing now is called boredom and probably realizing that you just lost 2 minutes of your life to stupidism that you'll never be able to get back

Myspace blog #5

Jun 16, 2006
Why we should not littler

So, I was informed the other day that I was a hippie republican, but, in my opinion, that contradicts itself. This same above mentioned person said that I wanted to cut down all the trees and pour concrete in there place, and the funny thing is, he doesn't even know that I'm a concrete princess!!

I don't consider myself a hippie by any means, (even though my mom told me I should move to Alaska and live on some dog training farm for 4 months because they recycle everything, and when she says everything, she means everything.....) With the exception of when I lived in my car in Australia, I shower everyday and shave my legs, thus knocking me out of the hippie genre. I just like to say that I am environmentally friendly. With saying that, I would like to urge each and everyone of you not to litter.

A little timeout in my argument to make note of the relavent fact that I love to rebel against wearing shoes. I didn't say that I don't love buying shoes, I just prefer to go barefoot whenever it's appropriate or in many case, possibly not appropriate.

Back to my tidbit, I believe if we didn't litter we could get away with not wearing shoes in public. The thing is, since there is so much litter on the ground, we have to be very aware of what's ahead of us that could cause danger to a barefoot person, like glass or paper (paper cuts in feet hurt)

If we took the extra 7.3 seconds to throw our stuff in a garbage can, or more ideally, recycle our goods, and not toss it on the ground, the sidewalks and streets would be so much tidier, thus the need to walk with your head down in search of little pieces of glass would be cut in half.

Also, if we didn't litter, and we didn't have to wear shoes, then there wouldn't be child labor factories in bangladesh paying children $1.00 a week to make shoes that in turn get sold for $100.

You see, there are benefits to not littering, besides the obvious. So, please, I'm begging you, don't litter because I want to be able to walk down the street barefoot and not have to worry about cutting my foot, because we all know that if I cut my foot and see blood my vasovego syncope might set in.

Wouldn't the world be such a better place. if we didn't have to wear shoes?

Now, once we conquer the not littering, we have to try to work on those spittiers.....

Myspace blog #4

Jun 14, 2006
Too much time to think

So, everyone has these ideas that are "million dollar ideas". But, in reality, we all know that half the time they aren't, but, I have the greatest idea EVER! And no body better steal my idea and patent it before I can figure out how to!

Well, I'm feeling a little under the weather, so this morning before work I went to the Piggly Wiggly to invest in some medicine. After staring dumbfounded at the pitiful selections for about five minutes I decided to be different and get some sudafed quick dissolve strips that are cherry flavored. (I do know how to take pills)

As I'm pulling out of the parking lot of The Pig, I pop one of these contractions into my mouth and as I do, I almost wrecked my beloved car due to the horrific taste that contaminated my mouth!

My question is, why is everything cherry flavored and not a flavor that is customer friendly, like chocolate, or apple, or peanut butter, or vanilla, or cookie dough. I mean, if these companies keep these cherry flavored or dirt flavored medicines then they should put a warning on there stating that it has the potential to cause one to wreck their car when they put one in their mouth.

Ok, so, my million dollar idea is to come up with tasty flavored medicine. Genius...genius I say! This, in the long run, has the potential to cut back on sickness's because people who don't take medicine because it's nasty, will now have no excuse because there will be medicine taylored to fit everyone's taste buds.

Coming next week, the plans for my other new invention, a tent that floats on water!

I'm so freakin' smart, it hurts!

Myspace blog #3

Jun 13, 2006
Scared and Confused

So, I know that I'm not suppose to write in this thing every day, but I feel as if I have so much to say, and since I live alone these days, I don't have anyone to blab constantly too(I miss you Kate)! So, I can write all day long and get it off my mind.

Well, today's entry is a little girly and could be taken as a little materialistic on my behalf. But, it's a blog and I don't care, so here goes.

A little preface: I'm fully aware that there are starving children in Africa who could use my time, attention, and money, but this work of nonsense is dedicated to me and my hair!

Are you ready for this, I hope you are sitting down.....I think I'm going to chop off my hair! ARRGGGHHHH!

I've worked for many years to have long, luxurious hair, but I think I'm tired of it. It could be due to the fact that I haven't had a true hair cut since January. (a girl needs to be pampered more often) I did, however get the wild hair (no pun intended) back in May and chopped off about 2 or 3 inches of my own hair, and in my opinion, it looks pretty good. (I have people to vouch for that as well)

So,yes, this Saturday I'm going to visit the hair guru Amanda at Studio Gaven, who is so smart and talented and made my pink hair dream become reality. I'm worried though that she will be hesitant to cut it as short as I'm thinking about going, but I know that she is a genius and what Amanda says, goes.

Maybe I should just add color to it and I won't need to chop it off, but, it's summer and no matter what color I decide to bestow on my hair, it's going to turn blonde, so, nix on the color until maybe October. I last colored my hair about 8 months ago, and it was a shade lighter than black!

But, also, it's kind of intersting seeing my hair change into the color God gave me. (I can seriously use the blonde excuse and know for sure that it isn't from the box.)

Ok, I type too much useless information, but what else am I suppose to do.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, any opinions on my hair? Actually, I like to go with my gut, which changes like Angie's hair color, so you never know what I might decide to do come Saturday at 11:15....stay tuned

Myspace blog #2

Jun 9, 2006
Some people's children

So, I'm torn on what to write about today. Do I want to write about seeing Skynard last night or about Hippos....Skynard or Hippos, Hippos or Skynard....ok, Hippos wins out.

Are you aware that 9 Australians die every year in Africa from Hippo attacks. This information was confirmed on the wrapping of an Australian panty liner, therefore I know that it is legite.

What the chewy are these people thinking trying to befriend a wild hippo?? This question has been running through my mind for over a year now. Scotty's theory is that Australians have Crocs, so therefore they ain't skerd, and think that a hippo is like a friendly, big dog or something.

Now, don't get me wrong, my favorite quote is 'Don't go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail'. But if it means getting off the path to go pet a hippo...DON'T! I mean..seriously.

But, I'll be honest with you. If I was walking down the street and happen to run into a hippo, I might try to go get my picture with it, but thanks to my sources, I know better. I mean, when Leah and I saw two camels on the side of the Nullabore, we stopped and took pictures, but we didn't try to ride them or anything.

So, the moral of my story is....next time you see a hippo, they aren't that friendly, so don't try to be their new best friend.

Who'd of thunked this about Hippos?

Myspace blog #1

Jun 7, 2006
Hi-Tech Redneck

So, I've learned lately that us young folk are suppose to be computer literate. Well, I do hate to bust some people's bubble, but this girl did not get the memo. To be quite honest, I'm lucky that I know how to turn a computer on, and that is no lie. Five years of college, to no avail.

I have, my friend, gone out and gotten myself a myspace account. QUE FANTASTICO! Unfortunately, to my dismay, that's about all I've done. I can't even figure out how to make my picture come up when you click on my profile, and I even went to the myspace help section, but the button that it tells you to push is MIA on my screen. Just my luck.

One might wonder how someone like me managed to get a myspace account....well....I work for the state. I've actually worked there for less than a month, and in that month I have had a paid vacation and found out that I am getting a raise, but most importantly, I have discovered myspace. So, yesterday, while I was probably suppose to be doing something else, I signed myself up for this.

I tell you that long winded story, to get to this. Any computer genius out there who can help me pretty up my profile page?

Maybe I should stick to wearing pink concrete boots....

What if?

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be 30 and not independent like I am. Would it be easier? I'm not sure. Either way, it's too late to change now, so why should I? Life can sometimes come back and bite you in the butt.....too bad we couldn't forseen the future so that wouldn't happen. God, I'm still waiting on that letter from you to lay out my life!!! So many what ifs comes with being too independent and free spirited. And that is all.

2011 is a GREAT year!

Ok, so we are only 2 months into 2011 and I know that it's going to be an amazing year! I'm really looking forward to what God has in store for me this year. Whoa!!!

I turned 30 and everyone is right, 30 is the new black! It's awesome thus far! I still don't look 30, but it's all good! I've said when I turn 30 I'll become more responsible and start thinking about marriage and all of that non sense that comes along with it. Well, I'm 30....guess it's time to start thinking about it! I've always said I would probably push my number back once I hit 30...but nah, life is too short!

So far, in these 2 months, I've been to 2 countries...not counting America. We all know about Fiji, well, I just got back from my first cruise as an adult and I LOVE it! So, so, so, so much fun! I'm ready to go back. Cheap and fun, can't beat that!!

I came home and bought my Bonnoroo ticket. Make that 2 years now that I'll be going to Bonnoroo, I had a blast last year when I went. And remeber, I don't go for the sex and drugs, I go for the rock n roll!!!

Overall,it's been a great 56 days! 2011, I love you! And I love you too!!!

Final Fiji

So....I got to thinking, I know I wrote one last blog from Fiji, but I think I still had a day or two left after that blog. You've got to know there's still some excitment wherever I am, and the last few days was no exception. I believe I wrote that blog on Thursday evening or was it Friday....so I'll continue from there.

I briefly mentioned that Angie fell down a flight of stairs. 13 to be exact. She slipped on the first step and didn't stop until she hit the concrete pad at the bottom! We were at the internet place and I had decided to stay up there and read and she decided to go back to the room. I'm just sitting there minding my own business when I hear her hollering and I look up to see her white dress flying. I think she hollered at every step she hit! Me, being the worried friend wanted to check on her....me, being the kind that faints at anything possibly scary or bloody was scared to go and look. So, I kind of yell at the bartender that my friend fell down the steps. I kind of waited for him so he could have the first look and not me. About the time I get to the steps though, I see the massage lady picking her up and walking her over to a chair. I slowly (the steps were wet from the rain) make my way to the bottom and luckily she was ok. The bartender and massage lady were not happy. Come to find out, there had been a couple of people fall down the steps recently, including the owners wife...who I saw, she didn't look like the type to take falling down steps lightly! So, I stayed up there reading while Angie went back to the room. I was talking to the bar tender, who in his broken English and arms waving, said, "I told my boss...one more person falls, I'm out of here!!!" Luckily, they put sand on it for some traction and so someone else wouldn't fall down it. The bartender even went to check on Angie, he was very concerned. When I was talking to the massage lady a few days later about it, she said, we don't like it, the guest are upstairs and happy and having a good time, then they fall down the steps, and they aren't happy! Regardless, it was funny!

Friday night was the Mongolian BBQ night at Club Fiji. It was delicious. We had way too much food, but luckily we could take it back to our refrigerator and have it for lunch the next day.

Saturday, we work up to sun and lots and lots of it. I got into the hammock about 9:00 and didn't leave it until 4:30. Heaven, I'm telling you! Nice breeze, so it wasn't too hot.

Club Fiji had a movie burro. On Thursday when we got there, it was rainy, so I decided to see what this movie burro was like because I wanted out of the room and was tired of reading. So, I go down and they tell me it's flooded, so they set the TV and DVD player up in the lounge area of the restaurant. I didn't think anything of it, just assuming it was rainy and we couldn't get to the burro. Well, no, that's not the case....Saturday night we were walking and saw exactly what the movie burro was. It was what we would call a Gazebo, minus the sides, with some big pillows on the floor and a TV....in the wide open. It was hilarious. So, after dinner and a couple of frozen sex on the beach drinks, we decided to go take pictures in it because it was so random. Afterwards, Angie gave an impersonation of her laying at the bottom of the steps....Hilarious night. Maybe you should have been there!

Sunday we laid out some more and enjoyed our last day of the sun. Our plane left at 10:50pm, so we had a while. Angie got a massage, from the massage lady and I had her give me a pedicure and manicure. She made me lay flat on the massage table and did my toes and nails. Kind of weird. I swear she took a layer off of my toe nails, but they look good, so I guess there is pain with looking good!

Sunday night I dried my hair for the first time in 3 weeks....it was nice. The day actually went by pretty quickly, so that was good. Luckily I slept the whole way to LA, well, a lot of it at least. When we land, everyone is standing up and getting their stuff when they make us sit back down. Then, here bebops 4 cops down the aisle and escort a guy off of the plane. Not sure why, but the girl who sat next to angie said she was from Fiji and it's a small island and no one leaves, so everyone there already knows what happened, so she'd find out. She gave Angie her business card to email her to get the scope. To my knowledge, she hasn't yet!!!

Oh, and also, there were a lot of Fijians on our plane who had boxes wrapped in syran wrap and most addressed to Canada. We couldn't figure out why everyone had any. Then, I over heard the guy behind me tell another curious guy that he had fish in it and was taking it to his family in Canada. HUH?!?! I told Angie, let customs give me grief about my palm leave basket and hat....I'll point to that guy and say he has fish with him!!!!

Customs was a breeze....even the unpleasant people and even though they had to take my passport and type something in a seperate computer. I asked the guy why and he said Angie had me put on the black list.....seriously...why, but I didn't get the answer. Hopefully I can still travel!

Flight from LA to DFW and then to Nashville was fine. We landed about 11:45 Sunday night. Monday I had a 10:00 DR appointment to get my staff infection looked at. I went ahead and got up early to get back on schedule. Luckily I went to the doctor because I had developed a sinus infection and my allergies went haywire during the travel back. The doctor had not heard of the antibotic I had received in Fiji. He decided to do a culture on it to make sure it's what they think it is. He also put me on a different antibiotic and gave me an antibiotic cream. It's looking better, so hopefully will be fully healed extremely soon.

To sum it up, Fiji was AWESOME!!! Had a great time. Work actually hasn't been too bad, although I'll probably have a snow day tomorrow, which means only 3 days of work this week. Gradually get back into the swing of things I suppose. Life is good though, looking forward to see what is in store for me in 2011!!!

My Year??

So, this time last year I did a year in review of all the high lights of 2009. I thought about doing it again this year, but then it dawned on me....I didn't do ANYTHING this year!!! I mean, I did, obviously, but I almost felt like a hermit this year! My jammed pack, action filled life came to a halt!

Most people probably disagree with this statement, because I am always really busy and doing something, but this year was different. I enjoyed staying in on Friday nights and watching movies and not insisting on doing something. I discovered Redbox and I haven't been the same since! I would talk about how I feel like I had slowed down and I just didn't know what I thought about it. Then one day it hit me like a sack of bricks.....I was tired...exhausted to be correct. I have been going 110 miles an hour for about the past 12 years. I've constantly been on the go, go, go and I was tired. So, I guess you can say 2010 was a year of rest for me....so 2011, I'm ready to hit it hard!!! HAHA...just kidding, I'm not.

I think I'm ready for a different kind of busy then what I use to have. New Years Eve at Mango Bay in Fiji gave me a glimpse of my old life with my new life. I was ready to go to bed at about 9:00 NYE, but willed myself to stay up to midnight. There was a group of boys and girls who looked like they were in their young 20's who were downing drinks after drinks after drinks. Those little girls could suck down some frozen drink in about 5 minutes. The boys drank a bottle of Jaquer, I don't know how to spell it correctly probably because it's GROSS and I get nausated at the smell of it (THANKS MCNAIR!)After they were all about red bull and vodka (how they slept was beyond me, probably didn't) and then you can buy this tall thin thing and fill it with draft beer so it's like your own little keg at your table. These fools filled it up with red bull and vodks and doing their version of keg stands! Next thing you know they are dancing fools, then in the pool and dancing more and pretty much all over the place. Then it hit me....that was me. There was a time when I could of of given those kids a run for their money. It was like seeing myself a few years ago and it was crazy! I felt like their mother, worrying about them and what they were doing! I felt like I was having an out of body experience and watching my life and what I have become now. No, I hear you, I'm not a perfect angel by any means, but I have zero desire to go back to that stage in life.

I'm grown....I have officially grown up. A few years ago when Heather and I were driving up to the Kentucky Derby (back in the day when I stayed on the go) we stopped at Liqour Barn right outside of Louisville and spent about an hour in there looking at the cheap liquor. I said at the time that I spent that month's electric bill on alcohol there. Well, back at the ranch.....Heather and I were looking at the wines, boxes vs. bottles, and I told her "We are no longer boxes of wine girls, but bottle of wine girls." I was talking like we were grown or something....I thought I was, but now....I'm officially grown! I am really and truely a bottle of wine type of girl!

I guess one thing that hasn't changed in the past year is my attention span. I can't even remember what I started writing about and how I got on this rabbit trail. Oh yes, my year in review. Hummm....ok, here goes.....it snowed out my birthday, but loved sledding, I went to Atlanta, I went to Field Day, I canoed a bunch of weekends (and weekdays!!! SHHH...don't tell the boss), went to the beach, started doing cousin's night out, dad got diagnosed with cancer, dad had his cancer removed, dad got infection after surgery and ended up in hospital, dad spent Thanksgiving in the hosital (I was excited for our 1 normal Thanksgiving last year....guess we broke the streak again!), we killed hogs, and I went to Fiji. That's my year.......

Either way, I'm happy and I'm looking forward to turning 30...I really am! It feels old and mature and plus, I'm told I still look about 22 or 23...SWEET! I always said I was going to become responsible at 30....we'll see.

I had actually at one point thought about doing a high light blog of my 20's.....but I think there might be a word limit on these blogs!!!! I'd have to have a blog for each age!!! I should have enough time as I'm now a homebody!!! Either way....it's been a great year and I am really blessed PERIOD!!!

Oh wait....I took Cake decorating classes!!! How could I forget....I'm a professional cake decorater now and the Flood...there was the flood and I worked about 14 hours a day with flood relief for about a month straight. OH YEAH....maybe I'll think about it and actually do a year in review, I'm sure there was more to it!!!

All good things must come to an end....

Well, I guess it's not quite the end...but close enough! It's Friday afternoon here and we are leaving Sunday night....so only one more full day in Fiji. BOO!! It's been quite the adventure and I've loved every minute of it. Angie and I haven't killed each other yet, so that's good. I guess I owe Mrs. Pavlich, my 6th grade English teacher, a big thank you for making me write a biography about Angie, even though I didn't really know her. Who knew that 17 years later we would still be best friends. God has blessed me with someone who thinks a lot like me, who is even more clumsy then me (she just fell down about 10 steps), and who doesn't want to confirm to what society thinks we should be!!! Plus...she's older then me....25 days...but she's 30 and I'm still enjoying my 20's!!! (Just had to through that in)

We've been actually busy this past week, even though we've been dodging massive rain showers. Yesterday we had 2 different cab drivers, one was talking about a tsunami and one was talking about a cyclone!! Angie hasn't been able to sky dive because of the weather and oh yeah...there's no plane!!! Instead of her sky diving monday we decided to go on the free tour of the UGG factory. Of course there is a catch with anything that is free. We knew they had a discounted store, but what we didn't know is that we picked out the model of the shoes and the color and they make it right there in front of us. The shop looked more like a sweat shop, kind of small, so we just walked around with the people. I think there were about 5 people working in it. We also met the owner and asked for a job!!! We walked with them as they found the material, cut out the impression of the boot, sewed the boots up, added the UGG tag, added the sole of the shoe, and then the actually sole where it was glued on and pressed. They cut the fur and any extra strings and within 30 minutes I had my own home made pair of raisen (purple) UGGS!!! It was so awesome...now I have something warm to wear home! Plus...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Afterwards we went to Deneru, which is the expensive part of Fiji. We are amazed at the people who come stay at the Sheraton in Deneru and never see Fiji....such a shame. It's not the true Fiji. We did some shopping, then walked to the Sheraton because we heard there were some women outside who made these really cool baskets, plus we went to gawk at the amazing hotel! I told Angie I felt like street people coming into that hotel!

Tuesday, we caught a mini bus (a van) to Sigatoka. We stayed at Naka Viti, where it was like a little mini apartment with a kitchenette. We went into town for groceries and had spagetti the next 2 nights!!! Our main reason for going was to see the pottery village. We went there Wednesday. The people in this village use mud and sand to do the pottery. They dry it indoors and outdoors, before using a stove. They do not use a pottery wheel, but all formed with their hands. Afterwards they glaze it with sap from a tree...hot of course. We saw that demonstration and had kava with the chief. Afterwards we could walk around and buy what we liked from the ladies who were there. Thursday we caught the mini bus back to Nadi. We were suppose to go to the Eco Park in Sigatoka, but didn't because of the rain. We got to our last resort, which we splurged some on, Club Fiji (splurged for us considering we've been staying in dorms). It's extremely nice and even has a hairdryer!!!

Today we just laid out until the rains came. It's kind of nice not having anything to do. Even though I've already all 4 of my books and almost done with the 2nd one I've borrowed from Angie! No complaints though! I think I'm going to get a pedicure/manicure here tomorrow and possibly a massage. Life is tough...got to enjoy it before I get back to the hustle and bustle of Nolensville!!!

My staff infection is doing much much better!!! I do have an appointment with the doctor at home Monday, just to double check everything. Thanks for the continued prayers for healing...they are working. Angie has been fighting a sinus infection or something the last day or two....no medicine for her to take, so she just did a shot of whiskey and pretty sure she is loads better!!!

looking forward to doing nothing for the next 2 days!!! not looking forward to a cold and snowy TN....please crank the heat up before I get home!!!

Lots of Love
Becca :)

Back on the Mainland

Bula once again from beautiful, yet rainy Fiji!!! Returned from our awesome island hopping experience. We had an amazing time, even with the last couple days of rain.



To add to the last email that I sent, I forgot to mention that when we were in the restaurant at Nadi Bay CNN was on the TV and they showed the NYC new years count down live. So, that was pretty cool, considering it was about 6:00pm on January 1st for us. Well, lo and behold, what do they flip to afterwards....a live Guitar drop from downtown Nashville, so at 7:00 pm on January 1st, we saw on live TV, Nashville ring in New Years. Laughing at the guitar not going all the way down though, but thought it was pretty cool that we got to celebrate with everyone back home, even though I was in a sun dress and everyone on TV was bundled up!!!



On Monday, 1/3/11 we boarded the Yasawa Flyer for a 4 and a half hour boat ride to our first island resort of Nabua Lodge (I saw resort, but we stayed in the dorms). It was a nice boat ride....got to sit on the top deck and soak up some sun...a little too much on my chest, but it's all good! We arrived and were taken to our dorm, which was actually a hut...grass roof and all. It was amazining. We were the only people in that dorm...there were only 13 guest at the resort. It looked as if they just built on a bathroom out of metal tin, which was the shower and toilet. It had some windows for light. Above the door leading into the bathroom was a sign that said, Mind Your Head....Angie and I didn't have any problems!!! We also had our mosquito nets here. Outside was tons and tons of hammocks under trees. I have decided that I think we (meaning my parents) should build a hut on the farm next to the pond....grass roof and all!!! How cool would that be?!?!? We walked to the tea house, where a local villager makes cake and serves tea for $4 every afternoon. It was a fresh baked lemon cake...although it was orange and tasted like an orange cake. She said she meant to make pineapple, but forgot the pineapple in the village. Come to find out that's what she told the people who went there the next day as well. After wards, we made our way to the tip of the island where there is a clift that juts out into the water. It was a magnificent view. This is the Blue Lagoon area, where the movie was filmed close by. That night after dinner we did the Bula dance....which I might be breaking out next time we go dancing and then we set around with some Germans, Austrians, and Aussies and played Hearts until 10:00, which is when the electricity goes out. They only have electricity for a couple of hours a day.



On Tuesday, 1/4/11, we went on the cave trip. Just swam around the cave. It was very nice. Afterwards, we laid around in the hammocks until our new BFF Joe taught us to weave baskets. We figured if we wanted to move to Fiji we should pick up a trade....basket weaving is not for me!! Joe did most of the work....but I know have a basket made out of palm tree leaves....hopefully they'll turn brown so we can get them through customs. Joe worked at Nabua and was one of my favorite people that we met. He said that we look about 22 or 23 and was super suprised to learn that we were there for our 30th birthday. He asked, why do you look so young then???? He also said we should move to Fiji and marry a Fijian man. We asked if he had facebook and his response was, what's facebook. JOE!!! I just wanted to put him in my pocket and bring him home with me. He took us the the village later on where we met the chief. He came to Washington DC last year. I asked if it was for official chief business, but he said no, just to visit family. He was there in the winter and I'm pretty sure it was a culture shock for him!!! Afterwards, he invited us to tea with him. It consisted of us sitting on a mat under a tree drinking hot chocolate. We were given a plate with 2 pieces of cake, a piece of lemon pie, and some crackers....at 4:30 in the afternoon!!! So hot!!! I tried eating as much as I could because I thought it was rude not to eat everything the chief offers, but luckily I got out of it. Afterwards we went to the "market" where ladies were sitting under a tree selling "home made" items. Home made my butt...but I still bought a few things!!! Joe bought us some Kava while we were there, so a group of us stayed up real late drinking kave. Kava is a tree root here, that is a drink. It's actually used as a sleeping pill in Europe...makes your tongue and lips numb. It was a blast!



Nabua spoiled us....2 nights of our own room and fantastic people. We hated to leave them, but on Wednesday 1/5/11 we took the boat back down to Korovue. It started raining here and really hasn't let up much. Not too much to do. Everytime I went to the hammock and started raining. We were only here for one night and it consisted of us playing cards or reading.



Thursday, 1/6/11, we transfered down to Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort for 2 nights. It started raining while on the boat and about the time we got off the bottom dropped out. We were soaked! Gotta laugh though, because we are in Fiji. This was a beautiful place. It was on the base of a mountain, and we were kind of up the mountain some. Beautiful views...even in the rain. We met some nice people here and once again it consisted of reading undercover. On Friday 1/7/11 we took a snorkling trip out to the reefs. The waves were pretty rough, but no rain. There was a man and little boy that we dropped off in the middle of no where....come to find out they were spear fishing and we picked them up on the way back. They go a little bit farther out to the middle of no where and drop us off so we can snorkle. It was beautiful and oh yeah....there were sharks!!! Luckily they were reef sharks....which are friendly. It was great. On the way back, after picking up the man and boy and a couple of funny looking fish, we were heading back when the boat kept breaking down....it would run a few minutes, then break down, and on and on and on.....so, it took us a little bit longer to get back....once again, you can only laugh. We came back and had lunch and after lunch we sat out back and weaved bracelets with the local ladies.....like I said, we need a trade!!!



This whole time we are trying to dry our clothes out, with no luck. About the time they dried, it would rain again. Oh well......on Friday afternoon 1/7/11 we transferred to Beachcomber island. We were a little iffy because this is the "party" island and a 120 bunk dorm!!! Well, it was awesome. Dorms split up for male and females and walls seperating some of it. They had a Fijian band who sung everything, including Diamond Rio's ( I think) Meet in the Middle. Is that the name of it....the letter from Grampa to the Grandma about working, etc...something. I filmed it cause it was so hilarious. Afterwards it turned into a night club....all sand floor of course. Tons of fun and lots of friends we had met on the way there. We lasted til about 12:30, which was great for us! Today 1/8/11 we were suppose to do the Sea Spray sailing, which takes us to the cast away island. Well, due to the weather, it was cancelled, so we took an earlier boat back to Nadi. Sometimes, I feel like there should be a camara crew following us, ready to jump out at any moment yelling PRANK!!! It hasn't happened yet, but we had one of those moments today. We have a free coach transfer from Port Deneru, where we catch the boat, back to Nadi Bay, our hostel. We ride and pass our road and we stop at another hostel and drop off a couple of people from hostels close by...but not ours. Well, we keep going and stopping at different hotels, assuming we would be last. We get almost to the airport when the driver realizes Angie and I, plus another girl were suppose to go to Nadi Bay. He proceeds to tell us that we were suppose to get off at that other hostel and we would have to catch a cab back. UMMM...no....so then he decides he'll drop us off at the hotel and 30 minutes later we'll catch the next bus who would drop us off at our hostel. Why he couldn't, was beyond us. So, 30 minutes later we get on the bus, only to get reprimanded by the driver for missing our stop. HELLO....we didn't know!!! So, he says he would drop us off at that other hostel and we would have to pay a taxi from there....WHAT! So this empty bus, minus the 3 of us and another couple stop at every hotel in Nadi, just in case someone wants to cruise that afternoon!!! All these hotels, and we picked up zero people....just have to laugh. Of course, Nadi Bay was not included in the stop, so he drops us off at the end of the road to walk to the hostel....in the rain. I really thought it was a bad joke, but hilarious to say the least!!!



Tonight, has had us dropping off laundry because everything was wet and a visit to the Ace Medical Clinic...yes...I had to go to the clinic. I noticed a strange bump on my back Wednesday and couldn't figure out if it was a bite or not and obviously there's nothing to do in the islands...no doctors or anything. Also, it was quite painful. So today we walk down the street to the clinic where I was diagnosed with a boil/staff infection. I guess I can't let my sister and dad have all the fun with the infections. He prescribed antibiotics, a cream, and ibprofrin. Said it didn't look bad and reminded me, in his broken english, that I was not my dad or my sister. Very true!!! Luckily the anitbotics are not going to affect me in the sun light. Said should be better within the week. Lets hope so!!! The price for my doctor visit...$35 Fiji Dollars and for all those prescriptions....$23 Fijian dollars!!! I'm for sure moving here for the cheap health clinics!!!!!! So, please continue praying for perfect health. I told Angie that mom probably won't ever let me travel again...ER in Australia for allergic reaction to mangos, Band Aid Station in Gulf Shores for Kidney Stones, and now the Ace clinic in Fiji for an infection!!!



This week we will be in Nadi and Sigatoga. Looking forward to it and hopefully clearer weather. I need some sun!!! Heard there's snow at home....HAHAHAH!!! It better be gone by next Sunday...which, I can't believe I only have a week left. So sad.....



Lots of Love,

Becca :)


p.s. I'm always in a hurry typing since it's timed, so please excuse any grammatical errors!!!!

Happy New Years!!!!

Bula!
So, I can't believe that it's been a week since I left Tennessee. Seems like ages ago. So much fun has been had in this short little ol' week.

Thursday, we went on the zip line tour. So much fun. I wasn't very good at using the brakes....so I just stopped using them all together! It was amazing flying through the rainforest! There were 8 different lines, with the longest being 250 meters....I'm not sure how that converts to feet or anything! It's long though.

After the zip line we transfered to Mango Bay Resort. Angie and I had seperate dorms and I get to mine to find 2 guys sleeping and it sleeps 8. I was in there and realized there was a tiny lizard on my bed. I don't touch lizards!!! So, I'm trying to get the lizard to crawl on my shoe so I can take him outside when one of the "teeny boppers" as I named them woke up. I said there was a lizard in my bed and he laughed. I then asked if he liked lizards, thinking he could pick it up for him. His response was, It's just the culture!!! WHAT! I gave him a go to you know where look and said, I know it's the culture, but I don't want a lizard in my bed!!!! I was going to show him some redneck culture!!! That night we went down to the restauarant/night club and had dinner and drinks. They had a specail entertainment for us, which were 6 teenage boys dancing. It was weird, hilarious, and really good all at the same time. My favorite was the one gu who did the complete Beyonce "single ladies" dance. HILARIOUS!!!

Overall, we thought Mango Bay was for the younger crowd. We did have fun. Friday we got out and had breakfast and claimed 2 chairs under the palm trees at 8:30 and didn't get up off of them until 4:30!!! It was perfect. We saw some people who went on a fishing trip and came back with a huge fish. Well, that was our dinner that night. Tuna with a lemon butter and it was very nice!! They had a DJ come in for New Years and it was a struggle for us to stay up to midnight. Old age I suppose. At midnight they had an amazing fireworks show over the ocean and other resorts down the way had fireworks as well.

We got up early and caught the bus into Nadi and are now at Nadi Bay Hotel Resort. We went to the bar/restaurant here last night and met a nice native Fijian who is now an Australian citizen named Ken. He is the largest importer in Australia of Cocunut Oil. His friend Dave he was meeting with goes to the villages and teaches the natives how to properly make the best cocunut oil and buys it from them. We asked Ken if we could set up shop in Nashville and sell some as well, that way we could come to Fiji and have a tax write off!!!

We also got back on the subject of wild boars. Ken said it's very popular and it makes you feel proud to bring your village a boar back. I said it looked dangerous and he said some young boys have died from the boars tusk. I said it seemed dangerous because you are running full speed with 2 spears in your hand and what if you fall? He said you don't fall, real men don't fall and if you are clumsy and fall then you can't hunt wild boars. So...that answers my question, I will not be hunting wild boars anytime soon!!!!

We hung with Ken and Dave last night. Dave is good friends with Jimmy Buffett and his dad was his boss at a shipping yard in Mobile Alabama!! We had the Fijian musician sing "country road, take me home" and of course, "sweet Caroline!!!" Such good fun.

Today is Angie's 30th birthday. All along the plan was for her to skydive. Well, the plane is under maintance, so it's been postponed to Monday the 10th! We decided to do the waterfall/mudbath/hotsprings tour. WOW...what an adventure. We asked if there was hiking involved and the answer was no. Well, we trek about 10 minutes through the mud to the starting point. We were then told it was a 30 minute hike. Our guide was Michael, who is about 14 or 15 and this was his 2nd tour to do...his first being yesterday. So...our 30 minute hike turned into an hour and a half hike to the waterfall. But it wasn't a bad hike at all. Just super muddy. Angie fell, but I didn't. There were 4 girls from Aussie who were with us. They were told there would be no hiking and were flip flops and ended up going barefoot! The waterfall was amazing though. So worth the walk. Freezing water, but nice and relaxing. Come to find out there was a short cut we could of gone on, but Michael's mom told him not to go that way!!! We went to the village afterwards and had lunch. We then went to the mud bath, which was awesome. It looked just like a little pond in the middle of the field and we got in and covered ourself with mud, with the help of Ester who was 9. After we dried off we got back in to rinse it off. It felt so good. After we went to the hot springs, which was HOT, but awesome. Overall, an unexpected, but good day.

This will be the last email for a while. We are doing the island hopping tour tomorrow and won't be in any type of civilization until Sunday evening. So looking forward to this part. Overall, it's been an amazing trip so far...of course!!! Hope everyone had an awesome New Years!!!