9.11.01 - Never Forgotten, Always Remembered

Today is the 11th anniversary of September 11th 2001.  Us 20-somethings were in our first year in college to middle school when we were sitting in the class room learning about what had happen in New York, DC and PA.  As we asked our parents where they were when Kennedy was Assassinated, and our grandparents where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed, our children will ask us where we were 9.11.01.

I remember as if it was yesterday.  I had actually just flew the weekend before, we got home the 9th from my cousin's wedding in Colorado.  I was a Senior in High School.  We we sitting in 2nd period, I was in Spanish class and I remember the principal came over the loud speaker with the "teacher code" to check their e-mails.  It was an e-mail saying that a plane had crashed into the towers.  Ms. Weber (my spanish teacher) then turned on the TV and we had watched the 2nd plane crash into the second tower right before the bell rung to go into 3rd period, which was my lunch/homeroom hour.  

I hadn't yet made it to my 3rd period class before Coach Hudson pulled me a side and asked if my mother had been working.  Not even thinking about she had been flying that day.  She then asked if I wanted to call my dad and talk to him.  (just so you know my background, my mom worked for United and was flying DC/NY to SAN/FRAN to LAX) back then.)  I guess it did not even occur to me that the planes may of been a United flight.  I just remember watching the towers being hit thinking, Oh My God, I can't believe I am watching what is going to change the history books forever.  By now I am a little freaked out about my mom.  Coach and I found my brother, who was a Sophomore, and the office had called our dad at work to see if he had known anything about my mom.  I remember them putting my dad on speaker phone in the office and him telling James and I that he did not know where she was, but she was leaving from NY to San Francisco.  He did not know what her flight number was or what time it had taken off in NY.  He said that he was on it and United knows we are looking for her and for us to try and make it through school and make it through the day.  She was not on the flight that had crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, but she was on the flight that left 25 mins before that flight did.  Her flight had made an emergency landing, since the FAA had grounded all flights right away.  For the rest of the day, we had our eyes glued to the TV's.  Parents came and picked up students, counselors were at the school to talk to students who needed help taking it all in.  I think it was around the middle of the day the chorus sang God Bless America over the loud speaker.  After going home, we were all glued to the TV for hours, days, even weeks.  I just remember that was all they showed, even MTV had a 24-hour camera on ground zero.  I didn't go to school the next day, but I did go the next few days because I thought that it would clear my mom with not knowing where my mom was.  We had friends and family calling, bring food over to my dad for us and my dad was only thinking the worse after not hearing from her for days. 

Needless to say it took about 2-3 days to find my mom and where she was.  United of course was blindsided by what had happen and was doing the best they could to  help families who were looking for loved ones and employes.  She was in Austin and did not have a way to get a hold of us.  She said that no one know what to do in the company. People were trying to call and were not going through and this was before we had national coverage on our cell phones.  She finally made it back to home after a week or so.  She did know a few flight attendant's that were on that flight.  She said that they were all staying in the same hotel that night and all went out to drinks and had planned to do it the next week they were in NYC just to catch up with each other.  She did say she was a little nervous to go back to work a week after it happen, but she knew that the Airlines and TSA were using the right force and that she felt safe.  I still feel that if anyone wanted to plan a attack on US soil all the precautions are not going to stop them and that our Nation is going a great jobs since the attacks of keeping out air-space clear and safe.

I know many people who's lives had changed due to 9-11.  Many men and women joined the arm forces because of this date and many lost their lives fighting for our freedom.  Besides remember the men and women who died in the terror attacks September 11th 2001, we should also remember the men and women who lost their lives protecting our freedom everyday and after the attacks, not just on anniversary of dates.  Please take time and say "thank you" to your local police, fire and emt's and of course any service man or women and most important veterans young and old. 

GOD BLESS AMERICA and ALWAYS REMEMBER!
Laura

Social Sunday Week 13

Happy Sunday Y'all,

I am finally home on a Sunday and able to participate in one of my favorite link-ups with Ashley and Neely.  This week we are remembering the summer of 2012.  I can not believe that the summer season is over.  Oh and for all you pumpkin spice Starbuck's lovers, some stores are already have the syrup and serving them, I got my first one Saturday on our way to the Georgia Southern game.  I guess that means fall is in the air!

What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?  

This summer my favorite trip was when Bryan and I went to the Georgia Aquarium for his birthday.   We also spent a lot of time at the lake with friends and family.  

 

Favorite outfit look of the summer/clothing item?

I love floral patterns and fresh light colors for clothing picks.  

What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?

Gone on a vacation out of the Southeast and made it to the beach.  Bryan and I tried to get away but was not able to make it out town for busy weekends and unfortunately personal reason.  Hopefully our mini-vacation in November will be great!

Favorite Song of the Summer?

Like every other person that lives on the lake "Pontoon" by Little Big Town. 

Eric Church:  Springsteen 

and of course

Justin Bieber:  Girlfriend

Everyone knows when these songs come on the radio, I have to stop everything and listen, sing and dance to the song.  

Favorite movie/tv show of the summer:

This summer I was addicted to TV.  I did not miss an episode of True Blood, Pretty Little Liars, and watched as much of the Olympics as I could.  

I hope that everyone has a safe rest of the long weekend and enjoys the last weekend of summer and the first weekend of college football.
-Laura

Rivalries...

 Ever since we were little we have had rivalries slammed into our brains.   Some of us have sibling rivalries, some sports related, drink related, music, those that we learn about in school, and on reality television.  Since, I am 100% football mindset I am going to be talking about the sport rivalries I have learned to live with growing up in the south and or have seen growing up since I was a child.   But since we were children we were always told to do better then the others we were playing against or with and that is where I think this rivalry mentality comes to us as a society.

I have always been a huge sports fan.  My whole family are huge sports fans.  I grew up in Chicago in what you would call a house divided.  My mom grew up being a Chicago White Sox fan and my dad a Chicago Cubs fan.  I remember hearing my dad’s family and mom’s family pick on each other every time they had a chance.  But in the end knowing that they were family they were always able to get along and I am sure that they all have a mutual hate for the Green Bay Packers when it comes to football season (once again another sports rivalry)! 

But when I think rivalry I am thinking and love good ole fashion hate.  Like a Lauren and Heidi rivalry on the Hills (yes I just compared the hills to football).  Knowing what I know and what I have talked to my friends about the one rivalry that always comes out of peoples mouth’s is Georgia vs Florida or Auburn vs Alabama.  Both games have been played for years against each other.  I have been able to go to each other these games, in Jacksonville for UGA vs UF and I have been to Tuscaloosa for AU vs Bama.  All I can say is that both of these games are intense and the good, bad, and ugly come out in their fans.  If you ever have a chance to ever go to either one of these games DO IT!  You will not forget the raw emotion you will see in the players, coaches and extreme fan’s eyes when the ball is intercepted on the other team’s goal line or the perfect touchdown pass is thrown.  It brings goose bumps just thinking about it.  

 

There are some people that take the rivalry thing way too far.  I know that people have a passion for their team and their sport and that is great.  But why does someone get mad when a “friend” wants to go watching another in state team play football or watch another team on the TV when your “team” is not playing or has finished up with their game.  These are the “fans” that I hope that I never become.  Yes, do not get me wrong if Georgia Southern is playing a home game at 1:00 on a Saturday and UGA is playing at 5, I do not have a problem watching or listening to the game.  I am going to cheer for UGA as long as they are not playing Georgia Southern it’s because they play and live in the state that I live in.  But some people cannot take remove football while watching their team to sitting down and watching a “good game”. 

 It blows my mind that people cannot separate their hate for another team to sit-down and watch another game. These are the same people that follow these late teen early 20-somethings players on twitter and wither praise them when they do good for their school and or bash the hell out of them when they miss a catch or drop a handoff.  They are college age men!  They do not deserve what some of these fans say to them!   

Tomorrow starts the final countdown to college football.  Many teams are in the “x amount of hours until their game starts,” me I am still 1 day and 4 hours.  But we have been celebrating and chatting about college football all day today.  I hope that everyone enjoys their teams game this week and can sit-down, relax and watch another “good game” that is not their teams and appreciate what these players, coached and staff all go through to get ready to entertain us.  

GATA EAGLES!!  CAN’T WAIT UNTIL 6pm Saturday!

Laura

Widespread Wednesday - 8.29.12

 Happy Mid-Week to everyone!  Not a lot going on in the Lake Country this week.  I was a nervous wreck that the hurricane Issac was going to rain out football for the first part of the week, because of the predicted path.  But I fortunately for us the storm missed Georgia but we are all thinking about the citizens of New Orleans.  Also, I have been watching a lot of the RNC.  I have never been a political person, but I guess this is my time to make a difference.  I will be voting in my first election (minus the primary) for President.  I LOVE America and I hope that watching the RNC it will all come together for me with what I feel that American needs int he next four years.  Oh and I do think that Mrs. Romney was an amazing speaker last night.  Her speech had me thinking a lot and I was glad that it was from the heart and not from the prompter.   

THE BIGGEST THING I AM WILD ABOUT IS!!!  COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!

For all of us who are college football lovers T-minus 3 days until Saturday!!  This week has been all about football for me.  From the crafts that I have been working on at the house to planning my menu that we will be serving Saturday Afternoon. I didn't think that this weekend was ever going to make it.  We have all be talking about football season since January planning out who was going to park where and what times we were going to meet up.  Bryan and I are also extra excited because we will be attending a football game almost every weekend this fall, except the first weekend in October.  I guess that is what happens when you have season tickets to both of your "Schools".     We both have lots to do and get done before the season officially kicks into full gear and we are still planning on what away games we can attend this year for both Georgia Southern and UGA.

 

I am hoping that I do not get to burnt out this season with everything that will be going on.  I love tailgating with my GSU friends and sitting in cheering on the Eagles with 20,000 of my closest friends at the stadium for 6 Saturdays in Statesboro and a handful more in Athens. 

Football Season is my favorite time of year.  I love how our group has changed from 5 sorority girls parking in the rac and bring subway to eat with our fancy drinks to how our group has expanded with new friends we have met along the way to new boyfriends, husband, and children.  I look forward to many more years tailgating with my friends and family.

Now that you know how I cheer on my team, how do you cheer on your team!?!  Hope Wednesday treats everyone good!

Laura

Retirement... this one is dedicated to my mom

Retirement, it is what most of our parents have either reached or in just a few more years until they reach that status that they have been saving and working towards for 30-50 years of their life's.  My dad has been retired now for the past 2 to 3 years from a major cell phone provider.  But this past week my mother has finally retired after 45+ years at her job.

She has been working for the airlines as a flight attendant.  It is the only job she has ever had, besides some part-time jobs in high school and college.  She started with this one and only airline that she has worked for before she met my dad, almost quit because my dad asked her to marry him and back in the late 70's you could not be married and be a flight attendant, and I still remember her getting ready for her "weigh-in's" when I was younger.  She was able to work full time, commute to another city to start her trips all while raising 2 kids and having a social life. My mom did mostly international trips after we moved to Atlanta, which means she was gone for 2-4 days a week on her trip and then she would have to commute to and from Chicago to Atlanta.  (How many kids can say their parents take a airplane for their weekly commute). The two question everyone asks me when they find out what my mom does for a living was Do you get to fly for free (yes I did until I was 26 years old) or Where all have you been in the world? (all over the place, naming to locations would be a whole other post)

This past week she got to do her last trip to Beijing, China with two of her best friends that are also retiring this year.  She actually started training with these two women and they have remained friends since.  ** warning, this is probably the most romantic thing my dad has ever done since they have been married ** But this last time was special.  She did not know that my dad was going to be on the plane with her.  He surprised her by being a passenger on her last flight.  He had this planned for months with her friends.  They were able to spend time together in the city that he proposed to her in one last time, unless they decided to ever go over there on vacation.  I wish that I was able to be their on the flight with him and her.
My dad also bought her the SUV that she has wanted for years but with a family she was never able to get it because of the "space" issue.  He had it all wrapped up in the garage when she got home with a big fancy bow on top.  (I told him to pull out the Lexus Christmas commercial since that is what he bought for her) Exact same SUV, but in black, it does not snow in Atlanta and I am sure my mom wishes that my dad had that much dark hair on his head.  But my dad said she was more excited that he was on her flight then getting her new car.  I hope that she does enjoy the rest of her non-working years and has plenty of memories with my dad, brother, her friends and me and spends a lot of time on the golf course with my father!

All of this retirement talk has had me thinking about where I see myself in 30-40 years.... I still have no idea, but I hope it is with someone special, living in a nice house, on the outskirts of the city and with one child... two if that someone special wants a second and just enjoying life.

HAPPY RETIREMENT MOM!!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!!
-Laura

Widespread Wednesday 8.15.12

 

 Hey Y'all!

Its Wednesday it has been kind of a slow week at work and in personal life.  I have made it to the gym 2x this week and one zumba class and I am kind of feeling Zumba again tonight... but we will see it is only noon-o'clock.  The next few weeks I will be preparing for the my favorite season, Football Season!!  The group of girls and I have been pintresting for ideas for food and decorations for the next 12 weeks!  (thank goodness for pintrest and slow days at work, I have more or less planned my entire food preparation for the tailgating season and also found some great other projects I would love to do)

I have been working on 3 different projects for tailgating and school spirit this week.  One is sliver-wear holders for when we tailgate at Georgia Southern and UGA games, and the other two are wreaths for Bryan and I's houses.

For the wreaths I have only painted the letters the base coat color, Black for the UGA one and Blue for my GSU one, and I will eventually put some decoration on the letter's so that they pop off the dark wicker wreath.   I am thinking that on Bryan's I will make sure that I use as much ribbon as possible on the wreath that will be going to his house (just kidding)! 

I guess I am on day 2 of my "soup" diet so I can have 3 cans to paint and decorate by labor day weekend and the opening weekend of college football.  I will have to upload some photos when I am done with the wreaths and sliver-wear holders.  Hopefully mine turn out as good as I have been envisioning the past week or so. 

16 more days until the craziness starts and I can not wait!!
Laura

Nothingness....

  Geeze!!  I have nothing interesting and or happening in my life or did anything exciting over the weekend to post about!  No good or trashy TV shows, no more Olympics coverage and summer is almost over! The past few weeks have been go-go-go and not I feel like I am in shut-down mode and as soon as I get comfortable with nothingness mode, it will be go go go again with Georgia and Georgia Southern football!
I know I am was super excited about having a few weekends to myself and getting some things done around my house and maybe laying out for a few hours each day.  The thought of having nothing to do sounds great, but I know when I wake up Saturday and Sunday Morning lay in bed for 30ish minutes, attempting to find something on TV or catch up on my DVR I am going to be bored or looking for something to do other then cleaning (which really needs to get done)!  

I/we have 17ish days until the start of college FOOTBALL SEASON gets into the full swing of things. And I am going to attempt my first walk/run/walk  5K.  Praying already that I do not die while attempting this! As for training I hope my cardio/strength training is what I am going to be needed because it is to hot to be outside in the heat!  Wishing that something good and or exciting happens in life so that I have something to write about!  Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday and that your life is not as boring as mine has been the past week!

-Laura