Dad turns 47...Again...

Ruby was amazed on one of our front porch conversations recently that when you get as old as 47, you stop even thinking about your birthday.   I probably only remember my birthday because Facebook reminds me...or reminds me that it is close when it is actually John's birthday.   But it just tends to run into the other days, but this one was a little special because Sam and Noel reached out wanting to meet up for dinner.   So we planned to drive down that evening to Prattville.   

That morning, Magan (or maybe Belle) put up the streamers so that Magan could wake up early and watch me karate chop them down.   The streamers by my room also said 47 last year, but now they were finally right.  I could not take vacation on this day because I was participating in an emergency drill at work, so instead I got to just sit being bored out of my mind for about 5 hours that day.   We did get a very good free lunch.   Deidra surprised me at work by decorating my door with some Happy Birthday wrapping paper, and left me a gift of some socks.   

We also got some good news that afternoon, that Belle's choir teacher was sick.   Which was not good for her, but good that Belle did not have after school practice, and got to join us on our trip down to Prattville.   We left after Ruby got off the bus, and ended up at my pick of Hawaiian BBQ.   It was really good, and I think all were impressed, even though this is not Noel's favorite.   The Junkin Italian/Chinese combos are not her favorites, but she found a dish that I think she liked.   

Afterwards, we went back to Sam and Noel's apartment, where she had cooked some bread pudding.   I had heard rumors of a dessert being cooked, but assumed it was her world famous strawberry cake, which is amazing.   But all know that my favorite is Bread Pudding, and when she mentioned it on the list of potential desserts, Magan quickly seconded that motion, and thus, a magical new amazing dish came forth and the taste was next level.   The texture next level.   Sam will surely be a fat man one day with desserts that good.   

Magan bought me the perfect gifts of a Ewok Hawaiian shirt, and a Star Wars dad joke book.   And everyone crowded around at my feet to hear me read a sampling of these wonderful jokes.   We all were laughing...or maybe it was just me...and Ruby...or maybe Ruby was just laughing AT me.   It was a perfect evening, except for not having Davis there.   But he took some time off of studying to call us while there and wishing me a happy birthday.   He and I had our own adventure coming up, although neither of us knew it at the time.   

And lastly, Sam brought me out the standard Mike and Ike presents, which I completely ate in the next two days, which is probably not good.    Ruby also got her gifts from Sam and Noel while down there.   So I guess birthdays are easy to skip over at my age, but the invite from Sam and Noel made this one a little extra special.   Love you guys in Prattville!   

Alabama vs Florida State Game

I was not initially planning to attend this game, but when I heard that Sam would be there, I checked with Davis to see if he could get a student ticket and then I could use his free ticket for parking.   I forget what the girls had on this day, but I am always excited to get to go and be with the boys for a football game.   I am continually amazed at how much life changed with simple piece of paper arriving with Sam's scholarship to Bama a few years back.   Tuscaloosa has just turned into a second home for a portion of our family for several years now.   

The game plan in my mind for this day, was to arrive at Davis' apartment around noon to ride with them to the ball game (Davis gets a really good parking spot due to his overnight parking work).   On my way into Tuscaloosa, I stopped and got some donuts for Davis and any of his roomates (Ronnie or Drew) that might also be at the apartment.   Sam, who had slept on the couch at their apartment the previous night called me after I picked up donuts and asked if I was bringing lunch.   So I stopped at ChickFilA, and got some sandwiches and nuggets also before getting to the apartment.   

When I arrived, Davis was still asleep from a full night manning the road at Hackberry.   But Sam went and got him up when it was getting closer to time to go to the game.   He was funny coming downstairs half asleep, but was very happy to have the donuts.   Drew was there and planning to come to the game, and Luke (Davis' working crew replacement for Sam) came over to the apartment.   Davis and Luke tore up the nuggets before we headed over to the game.   

I just let Davis drive over since he knew how to get to the right parking lot and after calling "Ms Ginger" getting us through the gate into super close parking.   Then we made our way over to the stadium, breaking into two groups, me and Luke going to the workers entrance, and the other three boys to the student entrance (Davis found me/Sam a fairly cheap student ticket, and good kid paid for my way in).   There is where it started getting a little crazy.   Me and Luke just walked with all of the crowd straight through the metal detectors where there was no one working, and no one minding any of the beeps passing through the metal detectors.   Then also no one checking for tickets at the gate me and Luke walked in.   Sam and Davis said that the same thing happened to them, no security and no scan of the tickets.   Inside the stadium, I left Luke to try and find my friend Ray Herb at the game.   And that is when the rains came, and that we found out that lightning had been spotted in the area (within 8 miles) and that the game might not start on time.   This was 1:45PM.   Kickoff was originally to be at 2:30PM.

The boys all stayed out in the rain getting soaked in the seats, but I stayed inside with the masses of people.   After the rain died down, I found the boys and got ready for the game.   And after a few more lightning delays, the kickoff was projected for 4:15PM.   Oh well, since I did not find Ray earlier, I made my way back over there to finally find him.   Then I made the mistake of seeing someone eating a Ben's Pretzel, so right before kickoff I went off in search of that pretzel.   I love those cinnamon pretzels.   

It was another horrible start for Alabama, and really sad to watch the first quarter and most of the 2nd quarter.   The FSU tomahawk chop fight song was loud and drowning out alot of the Bama fans.   And then at about 3 minutes left in the first half, another lightning strike was identified in the area, and they had to pause the game.   Drew told us that his Uncle had seen Ryan Grubb (Alabama's Offensive Coordinator) walking through the tunnels, and screamed basically that he was doing very poorly, and should consider improving the play calling.   And we all were thankful for Drew's uncle, because that got Ryan Grubb in gear.   After Bama returned from that delay, it was a whole different team, as they scored 3 TDs in the last 2.5 minutes of the half.   

And no halftime, that was super strange, but nice since our day game had turned into a night game.   While the rest of the game did have some more highlights for FSU, the momentum had swung, and never would come back.   I felt that the Alabama student section taunting FSU with the chop was a little early in the 3rd quarter, but by the end, after some really amazing plays, high fives, me falling a step off the bleacher, and Drew treating me like an old grandpaw to make sure I was OK, Bama ran away with this game.   And at 8:15PM, we left the stadium, Davis no longer able to talk, all excited about another win.   

My game plan originally was to take this group of guys out to dinner that evening, but it was late, and time for me to return to Chelsea.   I did get the invite to "Bock Hotel", which I learned was their strange way of saying Taco Bell...but I could tell the invite was for the less than 25 year old crowd...so I ate me one of the leftover CFA sandwiches, stopped to grab a Monster drink, and drove back home.   Every day with these boys is a treasure, since I don't have them nearly as much as I used to...so I just drove home wishing I could hold onto this memory forever.   The pictures help.   The blog helps.   But wow, it was a fun day I would love to do over again.   

MawMaw Weekend

Magan brought MawMaw back to our house on her way home from Cullman.   So our first day of the MawMaw weekend was a pretty boring Friday while both me and Magan worked, so of course she helped also by folding about 4 baskets full of clothes.   Usually my job, but MawMaw probably does it much better.   That evening when the girls got home from school, we all went to the Barons game.   And of course, when you go to the Barons, you must first eat dinner at Tortugas pizza.   It is so strange only ordering 1 pizza, but eating without those boys can have its budgetary benefits.   

At the game, we all got some free t-shirts remembering 9/11.   And of course with it being Fan appreciation day, and 20% off at the store, we picked up a few items.   We at least needed a bag for these free shirts.   The game was pretty good with lots of offense, and we saw a few home runs.   And a heavy offense game also means a long game, so at one point Magan was telling Belle she thought it must be the fifth inning, but Belle pointed at the scoreboard and said...we are still in the 2nd mom.   

Since there were not a lot of people in the stands, we had a whole row to ourselves and not many people around.   It was so empty that "Lillie Mays" (the girl dog mascot) came down our row to high five MawMaw and Ruby.   We then watched her sliding down the handrails to her seat a few rows in front of us.   During the game, we kept hearing the perfect baseball fan voice yelling out for the Barons.   It was a perfect voice for baseball (aka "Ice Cold Dr. Pepper right here"), but we could not pick out who was the guy with that amazing voice.   Then we started thinking maybe it was just the Barons playing that on the speaker from a movie or something.   Ruby went over to the section we heard it from and tried to spy out that voice.   And then I joined her as we both nonchalantly scanned the crowd for the mysterious voice.   "Here we go batter, here we go", and I saw him.   It was a long haired hippy looking fellow that was spitting out this amazing baseball voice as nonchalantly as we scanned for him.   Ruby and I high fived that we found him, and finally returned to our seats.   

Belle helped MawMaw get her light on her phone so we could wave them towards the Children's Hospital during the 7th inning stretch.   The girls all got to get up and get their ice cream, which they have decided is a requirement at baseball games.   And finally, probably close to 10 o'clock, the game was over, and while the Barons lost to the Smokies 8-7, it was a good game to watch.   But our night was not over yet, it was Friday night fireworks, and we all watched as they set off an explosion.   We had some fun crazy firework glasses to help you see everything in crazy colors.   Sam and Noel also went to baseball on this night and we traded a few pictures, till we found out their game in Montgomery was cancelled due to rain.   

The next morning, me and Ruby and MawMaw made our way down to Prattville to pick up Sam and Noel and get to the Zoo.   Anabelle had homecoming this weekend, and Magan was one of the photographers for the event.   My original plan was to meet Sam and Noel at the zoo, but then my smart daughter in law reminded me that we pass right by their house, so we decided to grab them first.   At the zoo, we started making our way over to the Sky Lift, which carries you over all the animals, and the coolest thing about the Montgomery Zoo.   We first passed by the playground where I can still remember all of those kids playing forever here.   And my favorite was the spinning ride pictured below with Ruby and Sam.   We also got our first glimpses of the elephants, but when we went to see the inside area, all we saw was a couple of guys washing out the area.   Then in a perfect father/son moment, both of us said at the same time "Look, its a mannelephant", to which Noel just shook her head because she could see that her Sam would one day grow into this old man making the same dumb jokes in 25 years.   

At the skylift, Sam and Noel took the first seat, then I got MawMaw and Ruby to take the second seat, having no problems sitting by myself in the back.   And in hindsight, I should have asked the guy running the chairs to slow it down, but things went too fast and I watched as the bar came over Ruby and MawMaw and right onto her hand.   With a shout of pain, the guy running it stopped the machine, and luckily, MawMaw hand a bandage to apply to a pretty bad cut on her hand.   It seemed good enough to continue the ride, so they went on up as Ruby told me MawMaw had some cleaner for it while they were on the ride.   

After the skylift, it was obvious that MawMaws hand needed a bigger bandage and some better cleaners, so while they found a bathroom to clean it off, I ran back to the van to get my handy dandy first aid kit from the car.   And if was when I got to the van that I realized that Sam borrowed my keys when we arrived at the zoo to run something back to the van.   Ugh, so I called Sam and had him meet me halfway with the key.   And finally I found the crew hanging out in the middle covered area of the zoo  waiting for the new bandages.   I think we got MawMaw all fixed up, and other than that original shout of pain when the bar came down, I never heard her complain one time, even tho I know that cut probably hurt bad.   At this covered area, I got a picture of Noel and Ruby, but could not convince them to dance on the stage like I remembered Ruby and Belle doing when they were little.   

Other than that crazy experience, it was a normal fun time seeing some animals, trying not to burn up, and laughing along with our MawMaw.   At one point, we saw a jaguar really close to the front of its cage walking back and forth.   Then he stopped looking right at me...it was somewhat scary, as I could see something familiar, but I could not place it.   I thought maybe he was about to growl at me, then the face slightly changed almost to a smile of content, as he slowly took a slow poop onto his little walkway.   After that, we saw another giant cat up on the roof of his structure, and Sam said "It must be a house cat"...Another Noel shake of the head. 

It was a fun visit to the zoo, but time for some Cracker Barrel lunch.   I think all of us were starving.   We then got to visit at their apartment in prattville, and watch a little of the Alabama game, while Ruby slept a little bit.   Our robotics geek Sam showed off with a circuit board that gave us a welcome message and with the click of a button gave us the wifi password.   I did not see Noel's shake of the head this time, but I feel like there may have been one earlier that morning.   We finally headed back to Chelsea, with one last stop at Peach Park, where we got pecan pies and buttermilk pies and some peach ice cream for MawMaw and Ruby.   

And on our last day, we had some more excitement on the way to church.   Ruby and I went to church early as I had to prepare a few extra things for the Honduras presentation.   Belle spent the night at Linley's house the night before, so Magan came later as usual.   And then while I was talking to some people before bible class, Magan ran into the auditorium, and laughing at the absurdity of what she was trying to say, finally got out "WE LEFT MAWMAW".   What!   I assumed she would ride with Magan, and when Magan left, MawMaw was in the bedroom downstairs, so she assumed she had ridden with me.   And MawMaw had her own Kevin McCallister Home Alone moment.   Magan said she never thought about it till she got a text from MawMaw saying "Don't worry about me, I'll just stay at the house today"!   Hahaha, but then as I was getting in the car to drive back home to pick her up, Anabelle was arriving at the house to drop off some things before heading to church.   She said she opened the den to lay down some items on a shelf and looked over to see MawMaw alone on the couch.   "Ahh" she let out startled "MawMaw, do you need a ride?".   And thus we forgot our MawMaw, but Anabelle was able to bring her to church.   

At church, Davis was able to join us from Tuscaloosa for the Honduras presentation.   We shared a video of our trip, and me and Brandon and Jonathan shared some updates.   I was thankful MawMaw could be there even if a little late.   :)   We all went to my favorite Arby's for lunch so that Davis could make it back to school, and we could have a little break before AHG that afternoon.   And after a fun day at AHG, it was time to take MawMaw back home to Hayden.   We have loved our fun time with our MawMaw, thankful for all the fun time we get to spend with her.   Looking forward to the next road trip or weekend soon.