CREATIVE FREEDOM NEEDS!

We wanted everyone to know that we're moving our blog, so everyone! We're taking some time to get the new design up and running but stick with us!

A FARE FOR THE FAIR?

Note to all, and self - bring cash to the fair...because they don't take credit card! Seriously, try walking to 3 entrances (not close together), just to find that out. Then sending Jim and Pete up the block to a bank to see if they have an ATM - all on Magnolia. It was a sight! Even got to see a man get arrested, up close and personal.
But enough about Melodrama on Magnolia... on Saturday, we went to the Tennessee Valley Fair and had a good ole' time indeed! We didn't do much riding on rides, but we did a lot of people watching!!!! Also, Jim and Pete went to see all the agri-prizes up in the hall and tested their skills of photography - which I think both of them are becoming obsessive about!
The fair, as always, was loaded with fabulous fair food and we indulged in those giant turkey legs, a corndog, an elephant ear (a flatter solid funnel cake), and a MONSTER BAG OF COTTON CANDY...which, when ingested after not living a year of much sugar, actually causes you to become drunk on sugar. Sugar drunk. It's silly!
Still, we saw interesting things and people. However being at the fair, I recognized I'm really starting to settle in here in Knoxville. We ran into the spectaular Randall, Becky and Willy - whom I hope we'll get to see more of and I realized, I may belong?! I mean, part of settling into a town is really setting roots and growing your friendship garden right? Up till now, Nashville left me feeling a bit hesitant to trust any new "friends". After the Easton trip, I've realized it's good to take some risks and open up to those who really do seem interested in friendship...life is too short not to see what's possible right? Anyway...who knew the Fair would be so enlightening...oh, and it's $9.00 for an adult admission - have FUN!

DRAGON CON ON A BUDGET...

Doesn't really happy fully :). Seriously, we went this year for Friday Night, Saturday and came home on Sunday. Now frankly, that was enough time for me to cope with the crowds which were copious (45,000 attendees as opposed to the 30,000 which is probably about standard). There was mounds of humans dressed in varied costuming efforts, and apparently so many that the Fire Marshall had taken particular notice of this year's event and caused shut downs frequently, which, I heard, was FUN.

You see...we didn't get a membership to attend the con. We went this year to spend some time with our friends Kenton, Sarah, Matthew, Pete and the Knoxville "Crew", as well as other assorted Kent & Sarah friends/family. So we hung out in the hotel room, enjoyed Dragon Con TV, got to people watch in the lobby and the underground mall food court (it's always funny to see a stormtrooper order a smoothie). It was fun, even though we didn't to treking through tracks - which are MANY. I even got to see Erik Estrada (who looks the same but a bit bigger). We watched the Dawn contest on DCTV and I realized, I had better do it next year because this year's contest should have been called "The Emotional Eating Dawn Contest" - lots of big ol' girls...68 total. My GOD.

Anyway...we had fun with our folk and plan to go next year.
I already have stellar plans for costuming myself - let alone buying our memberships.
So next year, we will indulge in our geeky-goodness.
It's all good.

OFFICIALLY A ROGERS!

Well, y'all - Uli Bear is officially a Rogers! She had her spaying at the best vet office in the area (Emory Animal Hospital), and we paid her adoption fee to the www.midsoutheskiealliance.org.
We love her so much - she's a mess and she's ours!


If you are ever interested in having an Eskie of your own - please go to the eskie rescue above - they're great!
BTW - Easton is an AMAZING big brother doggie!

FAMILY, FRIENDS, FUN, FEELING & FRENCH FRIES.

Jim and I have successfully returned from a very meaningful trip (for me especially), to my hometown of Easton, Pennsylvania. We piled up the Matrix with the hubby, the two puppies and myself and made the 10 hour drive in fine form - and blissfully escaped the horrid 90 and 100 degree heat here in Tennessee. The reason for the trip being so "momentous" was that I have successfully avoided "going home" since I moved to Tennessee over 6 and 1/2 years ago. Partially, I was running away and avoiding my reality. Clinically we call it something like denial or unresolved grief stuff. I made plans after plans to return to the area in these 6 years, but never followed through. This time...I did. I was ready.

Jim and the pups were there to cheer me on and be my support system and they were there to add light and joy from my present as I confronted some of my Past. My trip back home actually did more good than I can say. My good friend Sarah said it right...it was closure for me. It was a pausing to reflect and a moving forward, which I effectively delayed for 6 1/2 years. Truth is...anytime beforehand, I probably wasn't ready for it. I was ready this time. Ready to conquer fears and continue to grow. I didn't cry when I got to the house, but I did cry when it was appropriate - all in all, I got the closure I needed to move on with my life.

NOW you might ask - what did we do for fun? Well...

Easton has amazing FOOD finds, and we indulged in a culinary walk down memory lane:
Jimmy's Hot Dogs (25th Street Shopping Center - still amazing)
Colonial Pizza (OMG - best EVER - upside down pizza seen here!)
Maryland Fried Chicken (still my favorite type)
Williams' Restaurant's Rice Pudding (still delicious)
Chicken Croquets (salmon who?)
Sal's Pizza (still classic)
Friendly's Restaurant's Sundaes (who ordered the cheese?).


Easton is home to the Crayola Factory and "fun center" - which is really fun if you have kids. I do not have kids and I liked it quite a bit, but it would have been more fun with the tikes.
Easton also has a PEZ Museum - which I don't think is worth paying for, but some people do. You still can buy some neato discontinued pez dispensers and such.

Easton is only 1 hour and 10 minutes from NYC baby! We rushed in...rushed around inside the MOMA (try seeing a ton of art in 90 minutes). We did get to see some stunning and well-known works by Warhol, Lichtenstein, Eames, Pollock and Wyeth; but also some suprises from Seurat (anyone who knows me knows I love him), Monet and believe it or not...Starry Night by Van Gogh! It was fun, but next time we'll plan for more time. We ended our day at Brasserie Les Halles, the home base of the always interesting Anthony Bourdain. We had to go there, I'm a sucker for good food from somewhat celebrity chefs. It didn't disappoint! Especially the pommes frittes (french fries), which I heard Mr. Bourdain identify as "THE best". Okay, yeah...they were. We ordered another side of them. If you go...eat them!
Easton is near Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom - the amusement park of my childhood which is actually still really awesome!!!!

Most importantly, Easton is where my father and my family are. That is where my best friend from high school, Jenn is. I got to be with my Dad & Dolores, my brother and sis-in-law, Donna, Travis and his new girlfriend and spend time with Miss Kim. It is home; but not fully-home. Which I now know is okay. My Mom lives on in me. Importantly though, I forged new bonds with the old links and reconnected with those I love and care about deeply. I didn't get to see everyone I wanted...I just needed to get here and I did.

Now, I have plans to come back every year and you bet I'll be seeing you soon :)

For more random pics - click on the link to Jim's Flickr page - Jim supplied the pics, Anna supplied the babble here.

AN ADVENTURE IN PARENTING

For those who know and those who don't, Jim and I have signed on to occasionally take care of a teen at our church. He's a great kid and has lots of energy - for two old 30 somethings who realized they don't have as much energy anymore. We had him for a week and it went REALLY WELL overall. I think I was pretty suprised by that fact! I mean, we had to deal with the typical teen multiple wake-up calls (but heck, I can hardly get Jim outta bed in the mornings), to having to share my time on the internet, worrying he'd monopolize the phone (which he didn't), and finecky eating. I even took him to get his hair dyed close to platinum blonde as you see here. Really though - it was....actually...FUN.

Again though, I did recognize that Jim's going to be the more laid-back parent and I'm going to be neurotic mess - but perhaps that's just us. I was impressed that both of us really worked together at setting limits and enforcing them. Perhaps, when we have a child of our own someday - we won't completely screw it up!

AHHHH...WEDDINGS!

This weekend we got to spend some quality time with our friends and witness the wedding of our friend Randall to his lovely Becky! It was in the beautiful UT Gardens (which I never knew was so AWESOME), and was...pardon the borrow from Goldilocks...JUST RIGHT.

Here's some pics for y'all...congrats Randall & Becky!

WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE 4 LEGGED.

As an update, everything is going really well with our new child - Uli Bear Rogers. She's feisty and a little more independent than we'd like, but we have plenty of time to get into obedience training. We're planning to have her spayed in August which will make her our new adopted daughter. Easton is adjusting fine and still gets to go to doggie day camp every Wednesday. We've also figured out how to get him to eat his dinner (she tries to be alpha dog), you just let him eat up stairs by himself. He's way too mellow sometimes. Anyway...Iris (our black cat), is adjusting fine and Kira still hates her - but otherwise all is well in the world of the Rogers.

We're also babysitting Chris' babies, Trixie and Ginny. They are doing super good and Ginny gives Uli a work out, which is so good because she's got more energy than the whole duracel plant.

Here's some pics for good measure...

Uli's Getting Bigger...


Now That's A Smile!


Easton - Mr. Chill, Coping Well...


Easton, Uli & Ginny Play!


The Divine Miss Trixie...