Posts Tagged: Georgia


28
Apr 12

Strolling around MadisonFest.

A busy day in Madison, G. A.

We started things off at the primary school track meet where Joe raked in the ribbons ~ as did all the participants.

Then I decided to walk downtown to MadisonFest. A plant sale, craft and art sale extravaganza.

So many cute things….

There were tons of activities for the kids, painting, having their face painted (which always freaked my kids out), eating blue snowcones.

The Rutledge Garden Club had a great booth which in addition to lots of plants had lots of cute craft ideas.

Eugene Swain was painting. I kick myself I didn’t buy a little cardinal for $25 at a booth when we first moved to town.

Just goes to show you….sometimes you need to go with your gut. I would have loved looking at that painting for the last 10 years.

This is the one I would have bought today.  Alas, my checkbook didn’t have much in it.

But I did have enough to visit my good spin friend Lisa Hamilton’s booth. I arrived just as did Phyllis,  another Monday night spin regular…

Lisa, a high school literature teacher by day, jewelry designer in her heart.

I found two cool necklaces and got to take them home in a one-of-a-kind bag by her daughter.

One of those great small town days. And a beautiful one at that.

What did you do this Saturday?


27
Nov 11

Musing on Hoofing It Through the Hood to Church.

When will I ever learn?

I woke up this morning in plenty of time to get me, my children and husband off to 9 a.m. church.

I didn’t make it.

At 8:50 we start looking for son Number Two’s shoes.

At 9:03 we called off search and he put on his sister’s boots.

I sent them off and realized — THERE IS NO OTHER CAR.

My car was with son Number One who went to Alabama v. Auburn.

Proof that my car was in not with me this morning. (The bright lights of the GameDay set.)

So with no car…I proceeded to walk to church.

My boots and my cup. Ready for the 10 mile hike.

Could anything be more romantic?

Small town Sunday morning walking to church waving at all my neighbors.

Hey. Where are all my neighbors?

 

 

Actually, it was a nice stroll the two blocks to church.

Caught up on the renovations the new owners were doing to old Joshua Hill.

 

Then a little farther down the street — enjoying my coffee and not spilling a drip — I noticed with the huge oak gone from the tornado and with the leaves off the trees, you can really see the Cultural Center from Old Post Road.

Then I turned and took a picture of Boxwood. (Some houses in my hood have names. People just call my house names.)

 

And then I was at church.

Too late for church, right on time for Sunday School.

Oh well.

There’s always next Sunday.

Were you on time for church today?

Or better yet, did you walk to church (i.e. Sunday School because you had no car to be on time for church) today?


21
Oct 11

Musing on collegiate theatre. Might I have been a thespian?

Today I travelled to Milledgeville to talk with Karen Berman, Chair and Artistic Director of the Georgia College and State University Theatre Department.

Milledgeville, has so much history. I need to poke around another day — especially want to visit Andalusia, estate home of Flannery O’Connor.

But not today, for I visited…

 

How cool is that…a theatre department in an old restored theater.

 

 *     *     *

 

As we talked, I thought how great it would have been to have studied theater along with creative writing.

Oh dear. I’m starting to sound like an ancient person.

But something about walking along a college campus makes me want to study again. (Not take exams mind you. But go to class and learn things.)

Soon my son will be heading off to college.

Do we — those privileged to go on to higher education — realize what an incredible time this is?

Okay.

I knew.

 

 

Walking the sidewalks of younger, higher educated minds, I turned and saw these incredible oaks.

 

 

And then I noticed this.

 

Azaleas blooming. Isn’t that odd for October 21st?

I guess reality is suspended in college.

Also confirmation that I am approaching old person status because no 20 year old is going to notice that a flippin’ flower is blooming.

I wanted to stay around and soak up that only-worry-is-a-lit-exam mindset but son called and said he needed the car.

So I said good-bye to the me-who-might-have-studied-playwriting and got this middle-aged rear back to Madison.

Road trip!

Do you feel that way on college campuses?

All slightly sentimental and wondering where the time went….


13
Sep 11

Musing About Friday Night Lights on Tuesday. @MorganCoHS beats Monticello. Do you know where your child is?

Monticello, Georgia.

Home of Trisha Yearwood and the Monticello Hurricanes.

We went down last Friday night. Most of Morgan County made it down for the game. So my,

Story of the Game.

It was crowded. And we won 16-0.

Third straight shutout.

 

It was hard to find a parking spot. And even harder to find a place to sit in stands.

I got a good front row seat.

It was crowded on the front row.

I did get to sit with the cheerleader moms which was fun.

They were discussing a lot of responsibilities about a competition @MorganCoHS was hosting in the morning.

After looking over Agnes Jones’ shoulder at the checklist, I decided I make a much better journalist/football player mom than cheerleader mom with responsibilities.

 Got to see the Campbell warming up.

 

It was rather terrifying how hard that ball went into the net. Kept thinking is if he missed, some pretty cheerleader is going to need a lifetime dental plan STAT.

 

Decided to see how crowded the restrooms were.

 

Along the way, I noticed the water girls had lots of space.

Not so in the bathroom. But I had been forewarned about the tight acommode-ations by Diane Hutcheson. Though she neglected to mention the overflowing trash can.

Good to see that most females will wash their hands after using potty.

Then I got dinner.

It’s 9:30 p.m. in Monticello, Georgia. Do you know where your children are?

Quite a lot of middle-schoolers stayed in this dark, dirt corner playing with a ball the entire game (like hot potato).  Of course, it’s been a long time since I was in 6th grade and thought ANY activity with my friends at night, away from my parents’ eyesight was SUPER.

But this???

Take a head count moms.

Jack Speyer was accounted for.

As was his big sister, Annie. (At least till half time, then she disappeared for about 6 hours. Oh no,  I stand corrected. It was her father who disappeared for 6 hours. )

Ruth, James was there the entire game. Until some girl couldn’t resist his boyish charm and good looks and messed with his tie.

There was a big crowd of football players and cheerleaders celebrating after the game.

Noticed my son stay on the periphery of the dance. Must take after his father.

Or he might not like crowds. Hopefully, for his future wife that is the case — if she likes to dance — like a certain someone.

*     *     *

It was a great win for the Bulldogs. Coach Malone and staff…a big Hurrah!

This Friday night Lamar County comes to Billy Corry Stadium. Word on the street is that this will be a test.

Word in my house is that it is Elementary School night and all elementary students in free.

But I’m just a mom with a blog reporting information from the lips of my 5th grader.

Come out Friday night. It’s a lot of fun.

I can promise it won’t be as crowded. Though honestly, aren’t the best parties when you can hardly move?

(But that’s an entirely different post.)


10
Sep 11

In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes. Fuzz Run Pictorial Muse.

On the eve of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, I ran the Fuzz Run in Covington.  I saw lots of familiar faces. And lots of small town reverence for public servants who daily put their lives at risk.

And reverence for those who went to work one September morning and never returned home.

So I bumped this post ahead of my regular Saturday @MorganCoHs Friday Night Lights.

Because this was a spectacular day, in our spectacular country — for a lady with a bum right knee and a smart phone camera.

6:30 a.m.

I broke it to Tebow, “I’m going solo.”

Nothing warms my heart like a box of spankin’ new safety pins.

Saw Kim, Dennis, Kingsley and Clark Sitzmann. Got a terribly cute picture of them which I erased. Hate that!

The Sitzmanns ran  this morning in spite of travelling to Monticello last night watching the Bulldogs win.

Woo! <<Stomp feet. Clap hands.>>

I stretched my chronically tight legs….then meandered on.

Another heart-warmer for any runner, a porta potty with no line.

Tons of children showed up for the Fuzz Run Fun Run. Say that six times fast.

Finally, it was time for the 5K to start.

Heard a “Hey, Jamie.”

Beth Coody and Lindsay Peaster (also at the game last night).

In the interest of journalistic integrity over artistic integrity, thought I would share they wore the cutest pink tops.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked around to see Rodney Whittaker darting through the crowd to the front of the pack where he should be. Not back in the Pokey Puppy Pack with me.

That first mile was pretty much uphill, then it was a gradual downhill for most of the race.

After Mile 2, I looked across the crowd and thought “that looks like Terry Massey.” But it couldn’t be the Honorable Terry Massey because this is a footrace.

Saints preserve us. It was he. We ran for a while.

I stopped to take this picture. And he ran by.

See evidence that it was Terry and that he passed me — darn him.

That’s okay. I had about half a mile to catch him.

That is… till I had to stop and take another picture.

Rodney and his son, Blake. Well-rested after finishing an hour and half before me.

Terry finished about 10 seconds ahead of me. (Not that I watched him run under the clock or anything.)

That’s okay, it’s best not to sprint past him and keep on his good side. You never know when I might get a speeding ticket on I-20 through Conyers.

It was great day to be grateful for family, friends and a bad knee that still lets me run on an early fall Saturday morning in September.


14
Aug 11

Musing on Miss Electricity Auditions, Madison Community Theater and Scotch (tape).

Yes. There is tape on my head.

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and not think too much.

Today, the Madison Community Theater held auditions for their fall performance Miss Electricity. 

My daughter had asked…is this a “Miss Kathleen play?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’d love to do it because Miss Kathleen runs a great play.”

Kathleen Bryant is Artistic Director of and gave birth to the Madison Community Theater. Auditions were today 3 to 6 p.m. (You might have time to run down there.)

Today after church…daughter had change of mind.

“What if I’m in the younger cast? I probably won’t get a part. I really only do musicals.”

This is where you wish you could open up the Perfect Parent Primer.

Turn to page 792 and listed under the heading What to do if you child changes mind on activity you think could be fun and good experience in their overall development as a confident human and there would be the answer.

I don’t have such a book.

So I accepted dare.

If she would go to the audition and find out all the answers to her questions, I would wear Scotch tape on my head.

We got to middle school.

 

Here’s the terrifying part. You might not want to look.

 

Mrs. Kathleen and Reed Pagett.

 

My daughter still needing a little coaxing.

 

I pointed to the tape on my head.

Lots of people came…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, everything went great.

Who knows the outcome of the audition, but one thing is for sure. She knows a heck of a lot more about herself than if she stayed home.

But what do I know?

I’m just a mom with a blog with tape stuck to her head.

 

Any advice to offer?


13
Aug 11

Today’s Muse. Last night’s scrimmage. @MorganCoHs v. @CHS_Eagles.

MADISON, GA –  Last night’s scrimmage was against Columbia High School, a 3A school from Atlanta. In the interest of journalistic integrity, they are actually in located in Decatur off Columbia Ave.

You can follow their basketball team on Twitter. I chose not to follow them at this time because I haven’t reason to. I am not a sports journalist. 

I am a mom with a blog.

With that disclaimer….

Story of the game:

 

*  Rain delay.

Rain and lightening caused two delays (and eventually ended game at half). Both teams played about 15 plays. Three drives each.

The first delay happened with 9:07 left in 1st Quarter. This resulted in a nice social hour.

I caught up on Aubie Knight’s chase for a 4:30 in the Savannah Marathon this November. Robin Couch’s life in a frat house. (At least that’s how she described summer with a house full of her boys and their friends.) And once again I marveled at how Rhonda Spence keeps the same adorable figure — year after year after year.

So much for the rain delay.

* Speed Kills.

The Eagles dripped speed. A misstep by the Bulldogs and that was it.

Before the game, my son said the DE he was to line up against committed to Auburn.

At the game, I heard six guys committed to Div. I schools.

After the game, my husband said they had five guys committed. Two to SEC,  two to ACC and one to Ohio State (That’s the Big Ten.)

Today at Hibbets, Ray Stapleton said he heard they had four athletes committed.

So if you want the real scoop, tweet the Eagles. For remember:

I am just a mom with a blog.

But I feel safe in saying they brought some great athletes to Bill Corry Stadium last night.

* Game Summary

The Bulldogs were losing 14-0 at the half when they called the game due to weather.

That said,

It was just a few big plays that resulted in points.

One rushing touchdown happened after a defensive unsportsmanlike penalty on the Bulldogs gave the Eagles another shot after the Bulldogs had stopped them at the goal-line on 3rd and 4.

The other was a long breakaway pass and run from the young man attending THE Ohio State University. (I guess someone surely told him about the Jim Tressel thing before he signed on the dotted line.)

It was just to be nice sitting with friends in the stands again. A happy fifteenth birthday today to #26 Jack Speyer. Learned that visiting with his mother last night.

That’s what I do best. Sit, chat and pull for those sweet youngun’s wearing the Red and Black.

for I am

Just a mom with a blog.

Home Opener, August 26 against Walnut Grove (Not to be confused with China Grove a song by the Doobie Bros that I remember listening to on a little black AM transistor radio.)

What was your take on the game last night?

 

 

 

 

 


12
Aug 11

Musing on Football Picture Day @MorganCoHs. Hike, hike, hike. (Isn’t that what they say?)

Yesterday was Picture Day for the 2011 Morgan County Bulldogs.

Senior players and cheerleaders have their picture taken with mom and dad. I only found out about this from an inadvertent mention by another mom.

It’s too bad for if I had missed my son’s Senior Football pic that would have surely sealed snagging the Mother of the Year award.

My crew. On time. A slight moral victory.

 

It was white hot outside. Someone was really thinking to have pictures made in the gym.

 

The Coach Peaster clan.

 

Will Collier grew a half an inch while waiting in line.

 

Laura Margaret checking how her stock portfolio closed.

 

 

Head Coach Bill Malone and wife, Lady, discussing who will swing by Pizza Hut on the way home.

 

 

Birthday boy Coach Dennis Stizmann. The medic who saw me moments after my knee broke in half.

 

 

More Sitzmanns. Kim -- my running partner before she had find someone who could actually run.

Key Malone. Wondering what kind of pizza dad will bring home?

 

 

This picture was followed by lots of begging for Amanda to come babysit her instead of big brother.

 

 

We made it.

 

Yes. Football pics over for another year. Be sure to see all of those good-looking football players, cheerleaders and staff in the Citizen Supplement and MCHS Football Program.

The season kicks off with a scrimage tonight.

I have a high school senior. This is all starting to become very real.

Any advice?

 


7
Aug 11

Musing on all is lost with our teens. Then I saw toilet paper.

The dog whimpered at my bedside.

I wanted to sleep a bit longer but when the dog whimpers nothing will stop that infernal whining except a walk.

That’s when I saw this.

 I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Had I found some wormhole and been transported to August 7, 1978?

Surely that was the last date someone TP-ed a house.

Teens now days have their noses stuck in electronics, are having cyber-who-knows-what with who-knows-who and are murdering parents in their sleep.

Seeing this made me feel so much better about the state of things.

As I rounded the corner early this morning with my camera, (I am forever hoping to catch a photo of someone in their PJs for an easy blog post.) I saw Rob Jones, the man of Jones Manor, surveying the damage.

 After seeing this mayhem…

CSI Rob deduced the perps had to be female.  (Those are plastic forks.)

There’s no way teenage boys had patience for that. Ever try to get your 15-year-old son to set the table? With that Cracker Jack sleuthing, I understand why Rob holds such a powerful position with the Georgia Department of Corrections.

“Did you hear the firecrackers?’ he asked.

No.  I slept like a rock after returning from a solo, four-day jaunt with my two youngest.

*  *  *  *  *

So this morning, firecrackers and toilet paper wiped away any fears that our teens are woefully off track.

I’m at peace knowing somehow, someway the finer points of common decency being passed down to the younger generation.

What are some more signs? Anyone’s child swallow a goldfish lately?


18
Jul 11

Musing on the Gridiron Trail Rush 5K. A down and dirty, football-themed footrace.

Where can you run, roll in the mud and  leave rivals wallowing in the dust?

Sign on for the The Gridiron Trail Rush Saturday, August 13 at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers.

This 5K trail run powers you through football-themed obstacles such an entry tunnel, creek, hills, mud pit, tires and an end-zone at the finish. Only thing that’s missing is a stadium full of 80,000 fans screaming your name.

Want to run through mud and a creek — to an awesome after-race party? Is this a trick question?

Race participants are encouraged to wear their team’s colors.

At this moment seems Georgia and Auburn are duking it out for top dawg.  Here’s a call for all runners who bleed orange and blue.

Eric Snell with the Gridiron Trail Rush was kind enough to provide a coupon code for $10 off race entry. Coupon code: TRYGTR2011 

Thanks Eric, Woo!

Come on Gators we can’t get beat by “Other.”

Looks like a great way to spend a Saturday.

What are we going to do with ourselves until Murray State kicks off the NCAA season at Louisville, 6 p.m. on September 1st anyway?