Interesting look at this historic time, through the eyes of a photographer:

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the best apples can be hard to get to!

Today, we took a little road trip out to very rural Virginia ... to the land of wineries, pumpkin patches and apple orchards.  Specifically, we journeyed to the Marker-Miller Orchards in Winchester and spent the afternoon picking apples, sipping on fresh apple cider, and munching on wonderfully warm -- fresh-from-the-oven -- apple cider donuts.  Sooooooo GOOD!!!  We also each picked out a pumpkin ... this'll be the first time I've carved a pumpkin since ... um ... I was in kindergarten, I believe.  Wow.  Should be fun!

At any rate, we had the BEST time.  It was wonderful, relaxing, refreshing and uplifting.  Ah, fresh air.  And the weather was perfect.  Sunny, with a beautiful spattering of clouds ... cool, perfect fall weather ... little bit of a breeze.  Pure bliss.  I wish I could do this ever weekend.

(View all the pics from the day here.)

in search of the best apples

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Today, my mom turns 36.

Hee hee ...

Okay, in all honestly, I'm not sure how old my mom is now, but does it really matter?  This is kind of a running joke for me (who knows if other people think it's funny).  But since I was 15 or so, I've been saying that Mom is 36.  I think that estimation was rooted in me trying to legitimately figure out how old she was ... having trouble doing so ... and then settling on 36 with the thought, "Well, who cares how old she actually is?  She'll always be beautiful and wonderful to me.  So 36 it is."

Considering that I'm now 26, you can do the math and figure that in reality, my numbers are off slightly.  But it doesn't matter.  She's still beautiful and wonderful.

Happy birthday, mama!

Mom and me

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Well, technically, I guess summer is coming to an end.  But boy, I did a lot of reading this summer.  I read the entire Twilight series.  (The use of "entire" is probably unnecessary there.  It's not like someone would just read one and not be interested in the rest of them.  Pshaw!  Insanity.)  The Twilight series was splendid.  Thank you, Andrea.  :)

I just finished reading The Alchemist, which I highly recommend.  And now, I'm on to The Prince of Tides by the wonderful (and southern) Pat Conroy.

Check out my entire book list here, where you'll find my remarks and thoughts about each of the books I've read over the past ... however long.

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Just finished watching Auburn triumph over West Virginia in what turned out to be a pretty exciting game.  Multiple WV turnovers -- including several interceptions (i lost count!) -- pretty much paved the way for Auburn's 41-30 victory.  Three-and-oh ... what a GREAT way to start the season!  I'm surprised none of my neighbors came over to tell me to shut-up.  I was definitely cheering and screaming up a storm.  :)

But something that the TV commentator said really struck me.  The game was delayed for about an hour due to rain and nasty weather, and the commentators spent some time at the end of the game talking about how the Auburn fans stayed out there the whole time -- chanting and cheering -- through the torrential downpour, waiting for their beloved Tigers to take the field and the game to begin.  They talked about it like it was something really remarkable.  And I was thinking, "Well. YEAH they stayed out there!  That's what you DO!  That's what being an Auburn Tiger is all about!"  Pshaw.  My best memories from Auburn games involved similar experiences.  Blistering heat, bitter cold, looooong games with overtime that stretched LATE into the night.  And in the student section, you don't sit down or stop cheering the ... entire ... time.  (sigh)  I love it.

I cannot WAIT to go to the Kentucky game with Dad and Andrea in a few weeks!

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This show is so ... absurd.  First of all, the titles.  When I was in pageants (I've only been in about a handful in my life, so not THAT many), it was all about "the queen and her court."  If you win, you're the queen.  (Duh.)  If you come close, but don't quite snag the crown, you're first runner up.  Then second runner up and so-on.  But this doesn't fly in these little girls' pageants.

First place isn't queen.  Hell, "queen" is like fifth or something.  No, no.  Just third place ... is "Mini Supreme."  It gets better.  Second is "Grand Supreme."  And because that's only second, and first clearly has to top it ... first place ... is "Ultimate High Point."  (I would bet good money that in a few years the top spot will be called "Spectacular Ultimate Almighty Beauty Highness.")

I'm sure they don't want to hurt the girls' feelings, and that's why they have so many titles/awards.  They take the idea of "everyone is a winner" very seriously.  They give trophies/sashes/crowns for just about everything -- most beautiful smile, cutest face, most beautiful eyes, best hair, best personality -- you name it.  So at the end of the day, everyone comes home with a prize.  Or five.

I'm sure these pageants go a long way in teaching these girls self confidence (it does take guts to get up on stage).  But what does it teach them about life in general? 

Also, for the record, what's with the false teeth?  Naturally, these are little girls that are in the midst of all stages of youngster toothy-ness.  So what do they do?  Slap on some falsies, honey!  False teeth turns a gap-toothed cutie into a stunning beauty with an alarmingly straight, white smile.  Add on the false eyelashes, some spray tan, a wig/extensions, a smokin outfit and a tremendous amount of makeup and you've got yourself a winner.  Somewhere ... under ... all that ... stuff.

Again, what message does that send? 

Well, let's review:  There's always a prize if you cover up the real you with bunch of other stuff.

Great.

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Auburn's football season kicked off yesterday with a very nice win over La Tech (37-13).  I had a great time watching the game, totally pigging out on cheese pizza and Papa John's new "cinnapie" -- which is deliciously deadly, btw -- and then working out for the second half to make up for it.  :)

Speaking of Auburn football ... I do love Ben's game-day getup:

Ben's ready for some Auburn football!

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By upping the cost of your services -- yet again -- to now costing me more than $200 a month, you make it very easy for me to cancel my services with you and switch to another vendor for my TV and Internet needs.

So long.

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Woke up this morning with a sore throat and an overall feeling of "blah."  I have officially caught the CRUD; seems like a cold of some sort.  So I'm spending today working to kick this as quickly as possible (can't afford to be sick during the week).  But at least "kicking this as quickly as possible" involves ... drinking lots of tea, reading, napping and lounging by the pool.  Lots of relaxation and rest = speedy recovery.  Oh yeah, and a very happy Erin, too.

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You wave, of course.  Don't be rude!

<wave>Heyyy!!!</wave>

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