see, what had happened was....

I had no idea what to write about this morning. Only knew that I was way bummed yesterday that I didn't write at all after I had promised myself the day before that I would write every day... Yeah, stick-to-it-iveness is not at the top of the list of my character traits. I give up rather easily. Not so much that I get discouraged. Maybe it's a lack of caring. I just don't care enough to make stuff happen. Believe me, if I want something bad enough.. I'll MAKE it happen. Nah. That's not true either. I'm just kind of (really) lazy. I have my own way of doing things and I like it that way and I feel like the rest of the world should just accept that and accommodate. Truth. Anyway. As I was saying... I didn't know what to write about. So, I decided to pick out a few of my favorite photos and give you the story behind them. Why? Is it because I think you'll really care? Nahhhh... it's because I care. What if I get old one day and I forget stuff? That would suck. (Forgetting stuff, that is. Not the getting old. That part is better than the alternative, which would be NOT getting old which would mean either a) finding the fountain of youth -which I'm certain is not in Valdosta, where I shall remain for the rest of my years- or b) death. And I think death would suck, although I'm sure I'll find out eventually...) Man I'm good at rambling. Anywho. On to the show....

 

 This, my dear friends, was (according to the time stamp from the fancy 35mm camera) was taken in December 1995, which may or may not be accurate, as those of you who grew up in this era (as I'm fairly sure you all did) will remember. However, looking the photo, I'm pretty sure that's right. There's little old me in the top left. I took ballet for MANY years with Debbie Ramer at my church. At that time we (the church) were known as Church of the King, but it's now Christ the King Episcopal in downtown Valdosta (shout out to my church family!!) Pretty sure our ballet class was referred to as Children of the King... but I could be wrong about that. In this picture we have me, random girl whose name I forgot, Becca Thorne, Carole Mercer, Kelly (??), MaryWells Brown (now Smith), Aubrae (sp?), Sarah Suggs, Allison Ziegler (now Anderson), Jenna Ramer, and Denah Gupton (I think she's married now, as well, but I'm not sure of her married name & I could be totally wrong about that). Speaking of Denah, this reminds me of Vacation Bible School one year when *random person talking to all of the kids on the last night* asked for volunteers to answer questions. Of course, I volunteered, but didn't get called on. Instead *random person* called on Denah and her little sister Sabrina and asked one to count the hairs on her sister's head. Several minutes later, he came back and asked *pick a sister* how many hairs there were, to which she replied "One hundred." Of course, the adults and older kids laughed and the Gupton girls were given a ginormous box of Whoppers for their participation and *random person* went on to speak about how God knows even the number of hairs on our head, but all of his talking was lost on me... WHOPPERS??! I liked Whoppers, too. (I really wasn't sure if I did, but that wasn't the point. I wanted the candy.) So, I was pretty upset. I think I've held on to this grudge for close to 20 years now... So, I guess it's time to let go. Denah & Sabrina Gupton... wherever you are... I forgive you for being so darned cute. And for getting the Whoppers. Amen.

This was taken at one of my favorite places on Earth- Lowndes Middle School. No, I'm not exaggerating or joking in the least. I *loved* LMS. Middle School was one of the happiest, most fun times in my life and if I could go back *right now*, I would. Some of my favorite people in the world (teachers: Mr. Wildes aka Mr. Fish, Ms. Hicks -at the time-, Mrs. Guest, Mr. Todd -even though I was never in band-, and my favorite "office ladies" in the world- Mrs. Hardesty and Mrs. Peters!!!) I met at LMS.

In this particular picture, we have (L-R) Tanya Williams, Keri Browning, *me*, Meghan Brantley, and Leslie Chatelain. However, my BEST friends at that time were, of course, JG O'Connor, Crystal Criswell, Jessica Haskin, and Dana Brantley, JoJo Duvall (back when he would let people call him JoooooooJooooooo)... and my boyfriend, Josh Bennett. This year we "broke up" a couple of times and I "dated" Brent Fletcher for a while. Who dumped me. Then I dated Jeb Dasher. Then he dumped me. Then I'm pretty sure I dated Lee Montague and I'm fairly certain that he dumped me as well. Man, this was a rough year... ;) It's okay. I made it through. Oh- and one more thing about this time in my life--- Dana and I used to listen to Meredith Brooks' song "Bitch" riding in her daddy's truck on the way to the movies and would always turn the volume down really quick when she said "bitch" then right back up. Thought that was pretty funny. You don't have to laugh if you don't want to. Oh yeah, and that fancy blue button down shirt came from WalMart. And I'm pretty sure I was wearing a padded bra and *still* didn't have boobs. Eh. I was a late bloomer. 

 

Ugh. See that lovely black eye?? That was courtesy of JG O'Connor and Brandon Howell. My grandmother was *livid*. We were "wrastlin'" on JG's trampoline, my knee hit my eye & blacked it out 2 days before a pageant. LUCKILY, I had won the year before so all I had to do was crown the next winner and walk. No competing. But, that black eye got a LOT worse and stuck around for what seemed like the rest of the school year. Surely, it was months. And, staying true to themselves, JG and Brandon made fun of me about it until... well, they still make fun of me about that. And "I've never done that before"... and numerous other things. 

 

**big smiles**  this is my heart. Bugga was tan. That amazes me. She's a lot like her mama in that she is completely content staying inside and reading or playing on the computer... But, she'll get outside and fish or get dirty when she wants to. It's just rare that the kid spends enough time in the UV rays to get any color. :) Carter, on the other hand, would live outside with the frogs if you let him. These kids are so different, but so predictable. This picture was taken about 2 years ago at Wild Adventures. We had season passes so we went all the time. Believe it or not, this was taken in October. (and those of you who live or have lived in Valdosta definitely believe it.) My baby needed a glob of sunscreen on his nose in OCTOBER. Pretty sure there was a blizzard somewhere in upstate New York during this same time. (that was a joke. I have no idea what the weather was like ANYWHERE else.) Anywho. I just love this picture.

Another one of my favorite people EVER. Derek Nowell. I *love* this man. We first met when we were in middle school. His daddy lived across 41 from us, and Derek and my younger brother were friends so they would ride their bikes together. I had the biggest crush on Derek back then and, eventually, we became boyfriend/girlfriend... even though I can't think that we ever really spoke. I also don't believe we ever broke up so technically....

Anyway. The top picture was, obviously, taken at the Plowboy Dance at Lowndes High in 1998. I was 15. And I needed to eat a cheeseburger, apparently. The second photo was taken after his sister, and my "lover", Christina's wedding rehearsal. Good times. The rehearsal was great... the wedding was great.. the reception was amazing... the  after party at Creekside was a blast... but as for what happened after all of that... You'll have to read my book. (drama, drama, drama...) :)

Stinka's wedding day. :) I love this because

a) Stinka is so pretty and looks so happy!!! and

b) Check out my legs!! (I'm the one on her left.. our arms are touching because we love eachother)

Okay, so maybe her wedding photo shouldn't be about me... but I like to think that it's one of my better pictures ever in life (who could blame a groomsman or two... or three... for hittin' on me??! Geez. Just kidding. kind of...)

 My second family.

I love this picture, despite my bloatedness. I don't even care. This picture contains some of my favorite people in the world all gathered to celebrate another of my favorite people in the world- my JJ. It was her 40th birthday, so her husband and I decided to throw her a surprise birthday dinner at Mom & Dads. Bo & Jenni were actually on time, which was amazing. J's children, Randa and Reese came. Bobbie and Zack Morris (or is that her husband, Dean??) were there, as well as Brandy & Steven Stone and the Hedgecock boys. :) It was great til Brandon got stupid (which was fairly early in the night...), but all in all- a wonderful night!!! I love my friends.

HOW hot are my friends??? Seriously.

 L-R: (using Facebook names, here, people) Rosanne Blanchett Lewis, Jenni Sears, Bobbie Black Vinson, Crystal Bennett, Jennifer Beene Jones (heehee, JJ), *me*, Brandy Stone

I adore these ladies and we always have such a great time when any of us are together. This was taken at Mori after our first "official" Girls Night. I can't tell you how much we laughed, or that I made the waitress seriously uncomfortable (wha?? I just asked her if she liked me... not my fault that she didn't know how to answer it...) Anyway. I miss our Girls Nights. Ha. I actually poked out my bottom lip when I typed that (it's still out... I think I'm too lazy to put in back in. Real talk.)

Need I say more?? (and, Crissy Megow, notice the O's on the floor as opposed to Jacks. We had not yet explored the world of Jacks.) :)

MMMk, well I hope you weren't entirely bored by this post. And if you were, I don't care so much... because you don't HAVE to read it. Okay, I'm lying. I do care. I really do. So, please, just tell me that you love it... and me. :)