Yes, we're all bowl eligible...

Yesterday, I make the long (2 hour) trip up to Raleigh to watch the NC State Wolfpack defeat the Miami Hurricanes.  My cousin, Samuel, works as a manager for the football team.  So, some of our family goes up to the games to support Samuel and enjoy the game and tailgating.  With the Wolfpack and the Clemson Tigers winning yesterday, that makes 10 of the 12 teams in the ACC eligible for bowl games.  And, they said we were a weak conference.

Here are a few of the photos from the game...

To be thankful for...

So, on this Thanksgiving Day, I thought I'd post a few of the things that I'm thankful for...

funny faces...

beautiful babies...

and priceless memories with family!

pictures from my vacation...thus far

Sunset from the back porch.

Zac Brown, my cousin, leading his team back into the game.

Aidan Brown, not paying attention to Zac playing

Maddie and her friend

Hunter...so cute

Hunter, again, posing for me

Winston, in a rare, calm moment

starting to give thanks

I arrived to NC yesterday, to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  Apparently, we like to draw out the celebration to about a week's worth of events.  It begins with Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow with the Simmons side of the family.  That being said, I scanned a lot of old pictures of the Simmons family today.  Below are some of my favorites:

   My mom and Dad getting ready to move to SC (1975-ish)

Dad and Uncle Sandy (1970-ish)

Pa, carrying my dad, with Aunt Paulky and Uncle Sandy (1951)

My dad, Aunt Paulky and Uncle Sandy (1956)

Aunt Susan, my Dad, Uncle Sandy and  Aunt Paulky (1956)

recovering

On Monday night, I made the decision to go to a basketball game between the University of Memphis and the University of Massachusetts.  This is normally not a big deal, but the game started at 11 pm.  It was all part of ESPN's 24 hours of basketball...though I think they took a break between 6-10 am.  Regardless, the game was good.

I did take, what I like to call, a "Khorey Baker 3rd Quarter" nap.  I dozed off for a few minutes in the second half.  But, all in all, the game was entertaining, even though it ended at 1:30 am...on a school night.

Yesterday morning, I woke with a sore throat and the achy feelings of getting a little sick.  I'm still battling that right now. I've got some Cold-Eeze, Afrin and Tylenol Cold and Flu.  

I leave tomorrow to head to NC for about ten days.  I've found out that my family likes to extend Thanksgiving, so some festivities will begin this weekend.  Good thing I booked that ticket for when I did.

Yes, I'm Decorating...and I know it's early

I've decided that I'm decorating my apartment for Christmas this weekend.  So, I love Christmas. The trees.  The lights.  All of the sights, sounds.  I love the smell of Christmas.  (By the way, to me, Christmas smells like apple cinnamon.)

My snowman was ready to come out of storage, so I had to comply.  Plus, the Santa Claus in the background sings while he rocks in the rocking chair.  I mean, you can't keep that hidden.  

So, my decorating traditions include watching Love Actually while decorating.  Once the movie is done, I'll probably put on a listen Christmas music.  And, I don't want to hear any chastising because it's still the middle of November.  I'm leaving next week for ten days.  Then, I'll be back here for only a few weeks before heading home for the holidays.  This way, I get to enjoy it all!

James Bond

Before last night, I had seen one James Bond movie in my lifetime.  For me, that was enough.  But, I gave into peer pressure and went to the midnight showing of Quantum Solace.  Now, I can say that I've seen 1.5 James Bond movies.  Well, that might be generous, because I think I feel asleep about 40 minutes into the movie.  And, I'm okay with that.

a new update

Well, the number one story on the news in Memphis tonight was about how a mom got on a bus with a gun.  Maybe I should have watched more, but I quickly changed the channel to some sporting event...football, I think.  

So, I wanted to post some pictures from my recent events.  First, I travelled on a whirlwind trip through the Carolinas not long ago.  I flew into Charlotte, drove to Buies Creek for Campbell Homecoming, drove to Hilton Head for a conference, and then back to Charlotte to fly out.

While in Hilton Head, I did some alligator hunting.  Here are a couple of pictures of my successful trip...

That's the alligator in the background.

This is my dad searching for some colorful leaves for me to photograph.  And, some of the leaves are below.

In my week back in Memphis, I've managed little beyond lying on my couch recovering from an illness that overtook me.  I did, however, make it to a recent service project for Mortar Board, an Honor Society that I advise here.  The characters in those pictures were played by some of our outstanding seniors!

Biscuit the Dog and Pig are "making out"--oh, the things we do when we get bored.