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Yeah a 3-day weekend! Saturday, I took off to my friend Stacy's house and then we headed to Franklin, TN to go shopping. They have a very cute downtown with cooler shops than anywhere in Hsv. And we usually hit lots of antique shops too. We started off with a large breakfast at Dotson's - looks like a hole in the wall, but very good food. The past 2 years we've been a little before Christmas and I think I liked the selection better then, since I dont usually decorate my house for fall harvest. Main St downtown was blocked off for a Jazz Fest but it didnt start till 5pm, so we didnt stick around that late. When we got back to Stacy's that night she showed me their new pregnant goat and the guineas and chickens and all the house renovations. Yes she stays busy. I came home to find a clean house and cut grass - Jeff was busy :) We thought his friends were going to have to stay here b/c other relatives were evacuated from Louisiana and were staying at her parents house but I guess they shifted them around b/t a few houses.

I called my parents today and it looks like my 2 brothers did not make it out of Houston in time (one lives on the water and another in Clear Lake). Houston had not called for an evacuation, but all the Louisiana people made friends with Texans and were headed west, so the roadways were already deadlocked with cars and gas stations were drying up. I hope Gustav doesn't make it to Category 4 and they ride it out ok.

Gotta make a couple dishes to take to a cookout...

This past weekend we went to Bham to hang with Jeff's family. My sister-in-law picked up a beautiful pink cake. Normally I don't post unflattering photos of myself, but this is pretty funny. I don't think I've blown out birthday candles for close to 10 years. We had a good time. Sorry I didn't get more photos.

Yesterday I ran into a friend from work who said he'd been to Italy recently and was heading toward Greece for fun. I mentioned how my cousins were there a few weeks ago. Well today I got their photos (gorgeous as expected). Then Allen fw'd his Italy photos. So - you can guess it - I'm longing for another amazing vacation. Why is it that Alabama just can't seem to keep me entertained ? ;)
I do have a Texas trip next month to look forward to - friends wedding and then visit my family. I am really looking forward to that, its just on a different level than Europe. C'est la vie.

Jeff got back from San Diego and couldn't hold in a surprise - asked me if I wanted my birthday present early. I said only if he still gives me something on my actual birthday (like flowers). I was very impressed with the necklace - definitely the coolest piece of jewelry he's ever given me. My wedding ring is beautiful, but this is cool. I think he said it was some kind of shell from New Zealand.
Last night we tried out the Dolce restaurant in Beale Street - heard it was half off on Sundays. I'm glad we didnt have to pay regular price since I was not that impressed. And watch out if you order a side salad - they are $9 - that's crazy!
We had a lazy weekend watching alot of Olympics. I have a co-worker whose daughter is swimming the backstroke. Pretty exciting.

So I have tried out 3 different teachers for the wine and canvas type parties. I think I still like the first the best. A couple weeks ago there was one at the Monaco, and that teacher was a flake. She kept saying stuff like, oh use whatever color you want and if that's where you want to put it well you go right ahead honey. And she didn't even start her own painting till 1.5 hours into it. That's not teaching! Last night was another lady that came to my friends office. She was a better teacher and more likeable overall, but the painting was a bit ambitious for new painters. Most of the other/student paintings in the room did not have much dimension. She had one painting done, and then the painting she painted in class was with mostly different colors. So that made it a bit hard for me to follow. I'm not crazy about mine - still deciding if I'll hang it up in my kitchen or not.


The wine and cheese is the most recent. The Van Gogh style one is from the Monaco party - supposed to be Starry night over Huntsville. I may have to buy some paints and work on that one some more.