New Pics with the New Camera

So far I'm loving the new camera. I've only taken pics of people at work and Toto so we'll see how it does in San Diego. We're leaving at 6:00 tonight and we'll be back saturday night. I'll try to post pics while I'm out there...have a good week!

Toto Posing

With the new camera I can shoot pics continuously. I love this feature! That way if whatever I'm taking a pic of is moving I can eventually get a good pic!

I said "work it"...this is what I got...

Guess where I'm going next week???

Back to Cali!!!! Me and another girl are flying out on Monday to go see Laura in San Diego. I'm so excited! And I'm buying a new camera for the trip so I'll have GREAT pics in a few days!!!

Sarah's Wedding

Yesterday my friend Sarah from work got married. It was a gorgeous wedding and all of the ER group was there. Congrats Sarah!!!

us with the bride


the ER fam


Sarah showing off her wedding shoes

Floating the Cahaba (sorry no pics but good stories)

We wanted to spend the 4th on the water so our plan was to go and float the cahaba down in Montevallo and then come back and watch the fireworks downtown. We wanted to start the cahaba around 1100 so we would have plenty of time. The boys had done this before and they said it took about 3 hours, they also had "directions" to the place, which was in the middle of nowhere.

Well our plans got a little messed up when Carrie lost her purse and I lost my phone the night before. But we got up at 0800 that AM to go on the hunt for our stuff. We knew Carrie's purse was in Lindsey's car but I didn't know Lindsey's number without my phone. We searched through the phonebook for her possible number, but I didn't know her parents name and then we got online looking through old emails seeing if we had her number, nope.

So we went to Lindsey's house and rang the bell. Her dad answered and we went in and woke Lindsey up. Carrie's purse was right where she thought it was, my phone was not in her car and when we called it it went straight to voicemail.

The last time I remembered having it we were at Leah's house and I was talking to Lee as I was standing outside the car. But I couldn't remember putting it back in my purse, I just knew it was in a million pieces somewhere on the ground. So we went to the bar parking lot and we didn't find nothing and then to Leah's house where again we didn't find nothing. This kinda made me think positive because we couldn't find any pieces of anything and those were the only 2 places where we had been. But it was time to go to the cahaba so I just forgot about it for the moment.

We got back to my house, got ready and went to meet 2 other guys, Daniel & David at Stephen's house. Let me just say this is almost our "spring break" group from forever ago. THAT was the funnest trip EVER!

We FINALLY got on the road towards Montevallo but we now had a Garmin telling us where to go. Well the garmin led us to this gravel road blocked by a gate. So we went back to the main road to start again. We ended up going asking a guy selling watermelons from the back of his truck where to go he told us to keep going down the road we were on and we would run into the place.

Sidenote...ALL the boys had done this before but all they could remember was an indian woman holding a canoe at the entrance (which was no help). And let me just tell you it is no fun driving 5 LOUD boys (2 of which were in the hatch of the SUV)around all in one car trying to find something that you're not sure where its at!

When we got to the end of this road we had to stop and get out and stretch when we did there was another car sitting there. They were lost too looking for the same thing. Lee flagged down another car and they told us where to go. We caravaned and found the place!!! We were so excited after such a long drive!!!

We stripped down to our barefeet and bathing suits and went and bought our intertubes. $10 for a person per raft, $5 for a cooler a raft. Then we piled in the back of a pickup with all 7 of us and 10 rafts. We road 1/2 mile down a cow pasture about bumping out several times. Then we got on our rafts and started floating the cahaba.

It was soo nice. The cahaba was very clean, water felt good and the sun was shining. I announced I was going to start doing this everyday and that I was already ready to come back the next day. An hour later I looked back and I could still see where we had put in at...

There was a rope swing on the side so we had to stop to play for awhile. There we had our first injury of the day. David took a hunk of skin off the bottom of his foot. We then came to the first "rapids". It was about a 2ft drop all the guys did it but me, Carrie, and Dustin chickened out. We decided to walk down the drop. Bad idea...it hurt our feet so bad...we decided we'd just float down the rest of them.

2nd & 3rd rapids...no big deal...no injuries. We have now been floating for at least 3 hours and the guys have had plenty of beer so they were even louder. Daniel had started "fishing" with a cooler. Me and Carrie started getting annoyed cause they were just messing around and we wanted to make it to watch fireworks. 4th rapids...I banged my right butt cheek on a rock, the bruise is huge and then banged my elbow on a stump. I then got stuck on a big tree. I was VERY irritated at this point. Psycho Miranda came out. I threw my raft at the tree and just started swimming screaming the whole time. I finally calmed, retrieved my raft and me and Carrie went on. Plus, it started raining during my little rant which made us cold.

We FINALLY got the end and got out. There was this nasty black stuff that we had to walk through to get out. I had lost my flip flops at the 2nd rapids but I was wearing Carrie's from when I was walking over rocks to try to get the boys to "come on". When you would walk through this black stuff your feet would sink probably a foot, I lost a shoe but some guy behind me dug it out for us. We got out and stood on the side waiting for the boys.

30 minutes later we finally hear them...then see them. It literally took them another 30 minutes to get out but then we had to watch David jump from this highdive they have set up. We FINALLY get to the car and on our way.

Our initial plan was to cook out on top of a parking deck and watch the fireworks but its already 7pm so we didn't even know if we'd make it for fireworks. I had to stop and feed the boys at the first restaurant we saw...KFC. New plan...we went to David's apartment and watched the fireworks. We made it right on time and the fireworks were gorgeous as always.

I recommend floating the cahaba it was very fun the first 3 hours but after that it was enough. Our injuries include: my butt and elbow, David's cut foot, Stphen has a scratched up back, Carrie has a bruise on her lower back, Lee scratched up his back. I think Daniel & Dustin were the only ones without any obvious injuries but I bet there sore today cause I am!!! I will definitely do it again but this time I will wear water shoes and I won't have anything planned to do afterwards and I'll take snacks cause we were starving by the end!

Hope everyone had a happy 4th!!!!

Derby Junction

Last night some of my old friends came down for the 4th weekend. We decided to try this new place called Derby Junction. Its close to the racetrack so we didn't really know what to expect...I was kinda expecting the same type of people at the track (if you've been you know what I'm talking bout) but it was really fun. It was karaoke night and we were the youngest ones in the crowd but we had a great time! I did however for the first time in my life lose my cell phone. At the end of the night I couldn't find it and dumped my entire purse out on the floor so we left thinking it was in Lindsey's car. This am we got up really early and went to Lindsey's house...we found Carrie's purse (which she had left also) but no Miranda phone. I went to another girl's house that we had been at and to the parking lot of Derby Junction...nothing so we went on with our 4th celebrations (which will come later I'm pooped...good stories). Good news though...I just got back from the bar and they had it there...I don't know HOW I lost it!!!

me and my BFF, Carrie


me and my boys...I love these guys! I've been friends with them since middle school and they are just the funniest people ever! I miss them alot!


Lee & Dustin singing some Brooks & Dunn

Blow the whistle!!!

Friday night we went out for Sarah's bachlorette party. We ate at Olive Garden then went to Twist & Shout. Very fun!!! We even got Sarah on stage!

Sarah, me, Kelley


Sarah, Allison, me


Sarah getting serenaded


We blew the whistle for these guys!!!


Oh...and then the strip show...HA!

My Flower Bed

I'm so proud!!! I love my fountain in the middle...just needs water!

I'm a Gardener!!!

This morning I woke up and my plan was to plant some flowers in the back of my yard along my fence. I went out got my hoe, and started hoeing. No luck, my ground is like rock! I tried another spot...again rock...I think I made an indention in the ground and thats it. So I came inside and did what I always do when I don't what to do...called Mama.

Mama is out of school for the summer so she came down here to help. We first went to Lowes. Our plan started out as just getting potted plants and putting the pots along the fence. Pots are expensive!!! So we just remembered what all was at Lowe's and went to Walmart. (This was after a phone call to Donnie to find out which plants will come back year after year). I wanted bright colored pots but they didn't have any, I ended up with these ugly silver ones. No plants at Walmart so back to Lowes.

While trying to find plants that will live in pots a guy that works there tells us that plants will not live outside in pots through winter. At this point I'm ready to just have an ugly backyard.

Mama comes up with a new plan...we'll plant the plants and just put mounds of soil around them. Now we have to pick out plants. After much walking around we finally leave with hydrangeas (I had to have these cause they remind me of my Granny), crape myrtles, 5 different green bushes, some other little smaller perenial flowers, and daylilies.

Then back to Walmart to return the pots and get cheaper planting soil. But for all you future gardeners: Lowe's is not that much more expensive than Walmart and the workers are much more knowledgeable. I'll be sticking to Lowe's for all my future gardening needs.

We get home around 10:00pm and go to work! Mama now notices a helicopter flying around with a spotlight. So we go in to watch the news to make sure there's no criminal on the loose. We see nothing...30 min later its still flying. So Mama calls the police station. The lady is very rude and mama's like "well I'm a taxpayer and I deserve to know why they are flying around spending my taxdollars." We're still not sure what was going on.

Back to gardening...I'm outside and Mama comes in to turn on the lights. She closes the door then realizes it locked. The fence gate is padlocked with the key inside the house. I have an extra key (from the last time I locked myself out) in front but we're fenced in now!!! Laura, its a good thing you made me go rock climbing...I climbed that fence like a pro. I sat on top and then jumped the 8ft down. So I ran around, got the key, and we go back to work.

We finally finished around midnight and my flower bed is the cutest thing ever!!! I'm so proud of it! I'm gonna take pictures of it tomorrow and post on here. I still need something in the center...I'm thinking some kind of fountain...let me know if you have any ideas!

Another Day of Kayaking

A few days later I went out again with Steve (who lives on the boat). It was always warmer inside my apartment complex but then when you started walking along the water it would be cold because of the wind but Steve said it wouldn't be bad once we got out there. Uh no...it was fine kayaking down the bay and then we went around Coast Guard Island and the waves started. They were like 2 ft tall and just kept crashing on us (well me). I was in front cause the person in back is the one who steers the boat. So I was wet and freezing! I know I was getting on Steve's nerves. I don't think I helped peddle at all once we went around the island. I kept screaming everytime a wave would hit me. But it was a fun adventure! Then this new tallship, Lynx, came sailing in. We rode right beside it...it was very cool!

excuse my bad hair...I was soaked!!!


this was how you got the boat to move


the tallship, Lynx sailing in. Notice the whitecapping waves...we had just came through that. Right after this pic was taken the tallship had to take its sails down and come in by motor cause the wind was so bad!

Old Pics from CA

Most of you know our apartment complex was right on the bay and people parked their boats right down the sidewalk from us. One of our friends had a peddle kayak so me and Laura took it out one day. I had been wanting to do it since we got to Cali and it was awesome! I took these pics with a water proof camera so I just got them developed and thats why they are not great quality. The water was very calm this day...

gettin ready to go out


me paddling with the oar...it was much easier to peddle



our apartment complex from the water


The way the buildings were we could go under them. This was a restaurant we went right under. People that were eating above could see us and didn't know what we were doing!

"I hope we're this fun when we get old!"

That was the saying of the night. Saturday night my family had a party at Uncle Johnny's. He went all out! He had a stage with a karaoke machine & tv with the lyrics and colored spotlights! There was tons of family there and then there was also a ton of people I didn't know. It was hilarious! One old man even started stripping on the picnic table.

The Women


Daddy tried to sing...somebody help him!!!


Thanks Suzanne!!!


The Fam singing Sweet Home Alabama...notice Terry has no microphone...


me singing Proud Mary with my backup dancers

A Gorgeous Sunday

Today I woke up and went to Sunday School and church at Briarwood. I've never been to this church but they helped start the church I grew up in in Albertville. I really liked it and will probably keep going. After church we went to eat at Olive Garden. Then because it was so pretty we wanted to lay out but couldn't figure out where we could go so...we went and bought two little blow up pools and put them in my newly fenced backyard. It worked pretty good and was comfortable too! Here is a pic of our pools, notice my pretty fence :)

Atlanta Trip

Wednesday I drove to Rome to see Carrie. We went to see Sex and the City, which is a good movie but very different from the show. Then Thursday we got up and went shopping. I bought lots of clothes that I did NOT need. I mean I still have clothes from San Fran that still have tags on them. Then we went to the Braves vs Marlins game. We had great seats! Although we almost got hit with like 4 foul balls. The first one skipped right over our heads and a guy 2 rows behind us caught it. Then Chipper Jones hit his 400th home run, it landed 2 sections over from us! I would've loved to have caught that ball!!! I love me some Chipper!!! Our seats were right beside Jeff Franceur too!!! He was some good eye candy. After the game we met up with one of Carrie's friends and his roommates. We played rock band and then went to a pub. We had a great time!



Yummy...baseball players...even yummier...Jeff Franceur


Chipper's 400th homerun!!

My Little Brothers & Sisters

Our cat back home had kittens and then ran off and left her babies...so Mama and Daddy have been bottle feeding the kittens. It is so cute! The white one is the hawse of the group and eats like a champ!

Catch up...

ok ok I know I haven't blogged in awhile but I've been very busy. The past few weeks have been eventful with some good and some bad.

I started my new job as a charge nurse in the ER. Not so sure about it yet. I'm not sure how I'm doing cause its so CRAZY the times I'm trying to be charge. I feel like my eyeballs are going to pop out sometimes while I'm working and I absolutely HATE hearing my name cause people say it so dang much. And the phone NEVER quits ringing! I'm expected to fix EVERYTHING!!! No offense to any of my co-workers...this is not your fault its just my job now and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

I went for the first time to Lake Martin to hang out with one of my best friends. Me and Laura had a great time! It was absolutely gorgeous! And we flipped the jet ski for the first time. Laura's like don't worry it won't flip...guess what happens? We were fine though and I was laughing so hard I couldnt get back on the stupid thing. I miss you Laura!!!

Two days later I went to Lake Guntersville with mama and daddy. They fished and I just tanned. Then we all celebrated one of my cousin's high school graduation. We had him a big party and he stayed for like 10 minutes. When everybody was leaving graduation there was a wreck on the main road and Daddy turned to avoid it. I told him he might want to go make sure we didn't know them. We got to Levi's party and sure enough it was my aunt and uncle in the wreck. A girl pulled out in front of them. They were fine just a little shaken up.

My sweet 16 year old baby cousin made a mistake and had to grow up very fast in a couple of days. She now has not only mental scars from the trauma that she went through but a physical scar too that she will have to look at for the rest of her life. My heart breaks for her and what she will carry with her for forever.

My sweet Daddy came down here and built me a beautiful fence. Me and Mama tried helping but really we didn't do much. I'm sure Daddy can't wait until me and Megan get married so he can quit doing all this manual labor for us! Love you Daddy!

In the ER we probaby had the worst day EVER for most of us. One of our co-workers had to bring her son into the ER where she works and we had to work to try to save his life but God had different plans and he has went on to a better place. I absolutely hate that this had to happen. I hate that I was in charge when this happened. Its bad enough when its a child you don't know but the ER just stopped when it was one of our own. After that we were all just in a daze...it was like nothing else mattered. I have to give credit to the docs for the rest of the day cause us nurses were useless, walking around like zombies. I really don't know sometimes how I (or we) do the job that we do. Normal people can not do this. Normal people can not watch an innocent child die and not go insane. Normal people can't tell parents that their child has a brain tumor and is going to die as this beautiful child is running around the ER playing. Maybe we're already insane. This is the reason why we're so close in the ER. We go though together some of the hardest stuff that people in other jobs can not even imagine having to go through. Parents worst nightmares...we watch them happen every single day. This is why there is so much drama. But Saturday because we are so close and because we are like a family we all came together to support each other and our co-worker for her loss. Our boss came in just for this reason...in what other job does a boss come in on the weekend for a bad day at work? There is not another job like mine or co-workers like mine and I am so glad to be back in my home with my family despite the tragedy that happened or the tragedies that will continue to happen.

There's No Place Like Home

I'm finally back in the south and I love it!!! Me and Laura busted our tails after the Grand Canyon to get back home. We drove to Albuquerque after the canyon and then to Little Rock and then home!!! On our drive through Arizona we had a little scare...there was a cop on the side of the road and I saw him so I slowed down. A few minutes later here he comes with his lights on...I was like "what did I do?" Anyway I pulled over and he came out and he was very nice. Apparently in Arizona its illegal to have a GPS mounted on the windshield. He let me know very nicely (thank goodness) and I immediately pulled it down. He gave me a warning just cause he said he had to and let us go! No other big events on the ride home.

When we pulled into Bham I dropped Laura off at the ER...I said I wasn't gonna go in but once we pulled up I had to! I missed all of them so much!!! After that (Friday) I went to Aville to spend time with the fam. I went to my cousin's dance recital and spent the weekend just hanging out. It was great!

I'm now back in my house in Bham...in my comfy bed with my new sheets (400count egyptian cotton) worth every penny already! My yard was a bit weedy but my friend Donnie is gonna come and fix that for me :) Tomorrow I will finish unpacking, doing laundry, grocery shopping, etc and then Tuesday I start back work. BTW...starting kinda a new position. I will be charge nurse for 4 days of my work week and just doing staff nurisng the other 3 days (just taking care of patients). I'll also be doing 8 hr shifts...never done it before but I'm excited its something new!

BTW...I think the San Fran weather followed me here. I mean wasn't it super HOT last week and today was windy and freezing...I felt like I was back on the bay!

Grand Canyon

So pretty!!! It's very strange...we drove the desert for forever and then all of a sudden there's a big hole!



notice the far cliff in the background...its 137 miles away!


Toto has seen more of this country than a lot of people!


Enjoying the views of the canyon