Pain In My Rear-Tire

"What do you want for Christmas, bud?" my dad asked me, on Christmas Eve. (He's always called me Bud, since I was little...couldn't tell you why.)
"I don't know, Daddy...I'll tell you the same thing I did when I was 7- a horse, haha," I said, only half kidding.

Later that day, while walking past my 4Runner he pointed to my rear, driver's side tire. The words that followed are words I'm not fond of hearing...

"See the nail? Do you want to pull it out or leave it in there?" he asked me.
"Leave it! Isn't that what's keeping the tire inflated?" I responded, he looked at me like I'd given him the wrong answer.
"Okay, do whatever you would do if it was your car," I told him.

He snatched the nail out of the tire and I heard something I really didn't want to hear...

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, the air sailing on out of my tire! NOOOO!!

Luckily, my dad was able to push the nail back into the hole in order to temperarily plug the hole. (I tried to hide my I told you so dance from him. )

Later that afternoon my dad took my 4Runner to see if the tire could be plugged or patched. Of course, the nail was in the sidewall- so there would be no patching or plugging...the purchase of a brand new tire would be the only solution. Fan-freakin-tastic. And since I'm all gangsta and have 22's on my 4Runner...that tire would cost me almost triple what it would cost me if I wasn't 'all gangsta'...awesome.

"Well, Daddy...I know what you can get me for Christmas now! :)" I said, with a big grin.

He just laughed...hysterically...and asked me for the cash for the tire.

Any Excuse to Re-Arrange!

As I've mentioned before, I'm a compulsive re-arranger. Little Miss gave me a great excuse while we were in North Carolina to come home and completely give her room a makeover. The last few weeks we were in NY prior to our two months in NC, I noticed Little Miss was having a really hard time staying asleep in her toddler bed. I attributed this to the fact that she sensed the tour was coming up and just wanted to sleep with us. I think that was about a quarter of it...but once we got to NC she slept like a baby in her big-girl, twin sized bed. Hmmmm. I slept with her one night and noticed that in the middle of her slumber, she would wake up and turn herself completely sideways. (ie: she would practically prop her feet on my stomach, so that the two of us looked like we making the letter 't') If she did this in her toddler bed, she would end up in the floor...which is most likely why she would meet me at her door many nights and force her way into our bed. Long story longer...here is her new room!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Can you tell that both our kitties think the room is theirs?

I left her toddler bed in her room for her stuffed animals...and so she can use it as a couch. She loves that idea- especially since she doesn't have to sleep in it! And you can tell...Borat thinks it's his bed. He's slept on it almost 24/7 since the re-arranging occurred.

Little Miss's birthday present from Bub and Gran'Daddy arrived yesterday...she loves it! I'm hoping she'll cook dinner tonight. ;)

Horses + Ice Cream = Perfect Saturday

Ah, the weekend.

We spent most of our day riding through Manteo just like this...

Little Miss even took her afternoon nap atop Trouble. (Really, is there any better way to take a nap!?) After our ride, we met with some of my dad's truck-driver pals for dinner. Several of the guys he works with have October birthdays, as does my mom, so we all got together to celebrate. Honestly, I think my dad was just using that as an excuse to show off his grand baby. ;) She had a great time- especially during the dessert portion of our meal. She got to eat and hold her own ice cream cone! A first for her- and shockingly she didn't completely cover herself in it!

She wanted to share...;)

Cheeeeeeeze!Kisses to Grandaddy!
Shopping in the gift shop with Grandaddy- and of course, they both went right for the toy cars!

It was a wonderful day...and I'm totally tuckered out! I wish I could've napped on Trouble this afternoon too!

Tomorrow we are going to take the horses to Nags Head Woods. It's gorgeous back there- I might have to stop and grab a disposable camera for the ride. ;)

City to City

Whew...the last few days went by too quick! 

From Chicago we went on to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...

• I got a speeding ticket...on guess what highway? Eden Expressway...right after paying a toll at Eden Spur. (80 in a 65...if you must know.)
• We spent the night in the hotel where Jeffery Dahmer killed one of his earlier victims. I slept surprisingly well- although I felt like all the workers in the hotel were creepy and robotic. (They had Aveda shampoo...I was particularly thrilled about that.)
• Ate TGIFriday's in Miller's Park/Brewer's Stadium.

From Milwaukee to Detroit, Michigan...

• I drove the exact speed limit for the entire 7 hour drive. I cursed as literally every car zoomed past us.
• I sneezed through 3 states.
• We ordered the best room service dinner I've ever had in my life- after the show. Homemade French Onion soup like you wouldn't believe!

From Detroit to Cinncinati, Ohio...

• Again, I drove the exact speed limit for the entire 4.5 hour drive. And again...cursed as literally every car zoomed past us. (I hope they all got speeding tickets too!)
• We stayed at a gorgeous hotel...that must've been 100+ years old. I was sad to be informed that it would only be open for another 2 weeks.
• I finally ate at a Steak'n'Shake! (I know...the whole no red meat thing is kind of off. Eh well.) It was incredible! The burgers...the shakes- Oh My God. It's a good thing we don't have one anywhere near us or I'd eat there for literally every meal.

From Cinncinati to the OBX...

• I woke up after only 2 hours of sleep...and seriously considered switching my flight to the next city on the La Coka tour. The thought of seeing Little Miss in roughly 7 hours made me get out of bed...
• The rental shuttle dropped me off in the Cinncinati Airport terminal for US Airways...but there were no signs directing me where to find US Airways. There were also no people in the airport.
• While I looked around, praying for someone to come help me...my duffle bag's shoulder strap broke on both sides. How does that happen at the same exact time!? After I gathered my bag, I finally found out where to find US Airways.
• My flight to Charlotte was uneventful...except for my ears filling up and refusing to pop until this morning.
• While I was waiting for my connecting flight to Norfolk, my mom called and informed me that their neighbors doghouse had caught fire...and if they hadn't been getting up early to come get me from the airport- the flames could've caught fire to the neighbors house, as well as my parents house. (The dogs are fine, thankfully!)

I think that's about all the fun stories I have from my trip!

Oh...and since I failed to mention how incredible La Coka's shows were (it really goes without saying)...here are a few pictures-

I'm An American

Today Little Miss and I spent the morning at the aquarium with my daddy. It was lovely. :)

"Does anyone else see the giant alligator behind me"

"Kisses to that adorable baby!! Oh, that's me!"

Check out the octopus hat...how cute is Little Miss? We hoped to find an octopus in the aquarium but were sad to find that he'd just passed away a few days ago..:(

Happy Birthday, Uncle Seth!

Happy Birthday, Big Gully!

While we were in NC we were lucky enough to be able to celebrate my uncle's birthday with him. Since I was little, I've always called him Big Gully- Uncle Vernon was a bit too hard for me to say, I guess...and Little Miss has continued on the tradition. Since his birthday party on Sunday afternoon, I must've heard "Gully! Gully!" a thousand times. I'm not sure if it was the chocolate birthday cake or all the stuffed animals (real stuffed animals- bear, dear, geese) that come along with visits from him, but I think it's pretty safe to say he's her favorite uncle. ;)

Little Jenni & her Gran'dad!

Aunt Karen, Big Gully & Jenni

"Gully! Hold!" *little arms up*

Big Gully and Aunt Karen were also kind enough to drive us to the airport early Monday morning. Mom came along for the ride and for most of the trip, Mom and her brother shared stories from their childhood. I found myself wanting to write down all the stories they were retelling- some of which I'd heard before and some I had not. (Many stories included their pet raccoon, JoJo...which is an entire blog post in itself.) It was a wonderful way to end our trip.

Love you, Big Gully!

The Best Way To Spend An Afternoon...

The best way to spend an afternoon this gorgeous, is looking at amazing scenery through the ears of a horse.

Me & my boyfriend, Harley

I love this goober- thank you for letting me sneak off with your man, Missy! ;)

Playing in the ocean- I was pretty well drenched by the time we got back to the trailers.

ILL BILL Hangs With Tech N9ne

This past Spring, ILL BILL joined Tech N9ne & Paul Wall for 52 shows in 58 days on the Fire & Ice Tour. Prepare to hear Tech N9ne on Bill's new album over the DJ Muggs-produced "Only Time Will Tell". In this clip, Tech welcomes Bill onto his bus for some Caribou Lou and a live preview of his new album, "Killer".

Disclaimer: This was the same night that I was given an enormous jug of Caribou Lou & wanted to die the next day. (ie: our 2nd wedding anniversary)

*Thank you all for your concern yesterday! I'm fine now and it's safe to say I won't ever take Excedrin again. I felt like a bear was chasing me until almost midnight last night. Effing caffeine...I should've never stopped drinking Mountain Dew.

In Loving Memory

I had just gotten into bed and was watching a video of Stacy Westfall riding in memory of her father. (This woman is an incredible trainer and rider.) The song she was performing to was Tim McGraw’s Live Like You Were Dying. For some reason, as I watched her ride and control her horse without a saddle or bridle…my eyes filled up with tears and I became overwhelmed with emotions. All I could think about were my grandparents…not just Mama Clair- and not just Jimmie, but them together.

Then the phone rang.

“Your Mama Clair just passed away, honey”

I was speechless. I got goosebumps. I felt relief for her pain and sadness for my own selfish heart. Tears ran like a river down my face. My mind was empty.

My father’s voice cracked as he told me that she passed peacefully in my aunt and uncle’s home. I told him I had both her and Jimmie on my mind just before he called. For some reason, in recent years I never thought about the two of them together…just one or the other. Maybe it was my self conscious preparing me for the call.

She always worried about Jimmie being alone after he passed away. We would always tell her that he wasn’t alone- he was busy watching over all of us. Now I know that he has someone on his arm, who has missed him very much…just in time for Father’s Day.

Mama Clair accomplished many things in her life. Many things that were well-before her time. She traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut (from her native Hyde County) by bus, train and car shortly after she graduated college. She migrated back to NC to work in the then, Engelhard Banking & Trust Co- one of the only banks to see any profit during the depression. She continued to work as the treasurer of the bank well into her 70s. (At the time she retired, Engelhard Banking & Trust had changed it’s name to East Carolina Bank- and had over 25 branches.) She raised two hard-headed boys, who both grew into hard-working fathers. She took care of her husband after he had a heart attack that left him with only 1/4 of a working heart. And in her spare time, she managed to collect numerous china patterns- all complete and most, in their own china cabinet. (She could spot a fake ‘blue willow’ plate a mile away at an antique show!)

Of all the things she’s accomplished in her life, the one thing she wanted most was to see her boys and their girls together in one room- laughing, telling jokes, sharing stories… She didn’t just want us to get along- she wanted us to be best friends. She wanted my cousins and I to feel like sisters- she wanted us to see each other more than once a year. Even though seeing her health fail was hard on everyone, it brought us all together and today we are all closer than we’ve ever been. I think tonight, when she closed her eyes she felt all her hopes and dreams were accomplished.

Mother’s Day 2007
3 Generations of Spencer Girls

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Kitty Tails (badumchi)

Borat is one of the most relaxed cats I have ever known, much less owned. He will literally get his toenail caught in the carpet and just lay down and wait for me to help him. Not frantically waiting, just like “Oh well…*yawn* someone will be along shortly to help me out…or not, whatever.”

Regardless of his relaxed nature, he’s not a huge fan of water. Even though he will hang out in the bathroom while Little Miss takes her bath…he does not usually venture near the tub. Until yesterday.

I had just finished giving Little Miss a bath…the tub was still full of water and she was sitting in the bathroom floor, wrapped up in a towel when the door opens. Borat sashays his way past us and leaps (leaps!) into the tub!! He had a look of sheer horror on his face when he turned around- soaked, but still in the tub! I grabbed Little Miss b/c I figured he’d be clawing his way out of that water like a mad-man…but no. He looked around and calmly climbed out of the tub- as if to say, “Aw man…now I’m all wet. Shucks, I hope someone gets me a towel.”

What cat does that!? He is such a goof-ball! Juno was also in the bathroom for the festivities- and she was definitely not into following Borat into the tub. In fact, her facial expression read…”dumbass purebred” (She’s so hood.)

Neither of them is too pleased with me tonight. I got them both collars…with bells!! They jingle all over the house and I think it’s hilarious. Borat is quietly annoyed, but Juno tries to run from the noise- which I find particuarly humorous. The look on her face is priceless…she pins her ears back and runs like her ass is on fire, then slams on breaks and turns around like “ah! It stopped!” Then starts to walk again & the jingling starts again…and she runs again. My sides hurt from laughing at her.

I’m really not cruel.

See…she’s getting used to it!

Oompa Loompa Baby

This is what happens when you let your toddler have meatball parmesan all to herself.

Taaa-Daaa!

Look, Mama!! This fun orange stuff is on my hands too!!! Let me hug you!

Needless to say, she had a loooong bath after lunch.

Country Girl!

Well, after 2 months of traveling it is good to really be home. I never thought I would look forward to doing housework, but I was so excited to spend the entire day yesterday getting our house reorganized!

Today we had a bit of a lazy day- as every bone and muscle in my body is aching from the drive home Tuesday and my reorganization party yesterday. Little Miss has a new obsession- walking outside. It’s to the point of having to spell the word o-u-t-s-i-d-e because she loves it so much. So tonight, we continued her nightly event of walking out in the yard. Granted, our little yard is nothing compared to her Bubbie & Gran’Daddy’s yard…but coupled with a walk around the block, it did the job.

Our Little Country Girl

Caught in between worlds…country girl in rock’n'roll shoes.

Spying on the neighbors! I’m not sure where she learned that one!

Around The House

On most afternoons since we have been in NC, Little Miss & Bub or Little Miss & I have gone exploring in the yard. We look at the flowers and the trees- we talk to the squirrels- we bring the dogs out with us and we have a wonderful time. Yesterday we brought the camera along on our adventure.

Throw your hands up!!

& don’t forget to put your ones up!

We always have to hold hands when we’re outside…

Gran’Dad’s tractor.

These tires are huge!

My personal favorite…under the fig tree.

Bub caught us!!