Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Kristin goes home and encounters the adventure of Maine


Yep... so I did the math and it has been 16 days since my last blog and I know each and every one of you (aka the 10 views) that my site got for my last blog are more than thrilled that I am finally posting.. mostly my mother. Since my last blog I have been home (which was much needed) for a few days, experienced airports and interesting airplane trips and have even encountered the wonderful yet surprising state of Maine.

I will start off by talking about my adventure back to the land of that soul-thriving (pick up context clues), BBQ loving, hot as you know what home of mine.. Memphis.. well more so the town of Germans... Germantown..yep I just did that.. dunno if it is legal to do so but I just renamed my hometown for the past 19 years the land of Germans.. hope it starts trending... I start this adventure back home by trying to get to the Manchester airport.. I don't know if you know this about me from my past blogs or what, but I am not that good at directions.. especially when I am trying to tell someone else how to get somewhere I have been twice to after a Chewbacca or two..as my AD (airport driver) Ashley attempts to take me to the Manchester airport we get lost.. shock.. and at one point I read a sign that said take a left to Canada and thought that was the right way and I thought that that was what the sign read.. def read something along the lines of Candid. yep. .don't read directions and drink folks.. bad combo..(also.. bad combo to hang up new decorations on your apartment walls after a pre-calm your nerves before the flight drink... you will have crooked posters, flags and painting...another side note.. I know how an American Revolution flag hung up proudly like the New Englander I am in my room, a granola poster that has some inspirational quote on it (I am really inspired by it if you can't tell) a brisk autumn forest pic and the last and final addition to my wall.. Mamma Moose.. a picture of Maxwell the Moose's mom is hanging proudly right next to him..can't let him forget where he came from) as I finally made it to the Manchester airport I managed to spill the rest of my drink all down my new and white UNH Hockey shirt, had to wait in the longest check-in line to find out after I waited that since I checked in online I could of skipped everyone, listen to an annoying man on his phone talk about his dreams of becoming a sushi chef, get asked 2 times if I played hockey at UNH (didn’t hate it ..maybe went along with it) and rushed to my gate to find it had been delayed only 10 minutes..not bad...those 10 minutes turned into an hour. my layover in ATL was only 40 min. solid. As I franticly waited around n the Manchester airport I managed to go be that girl in the bathroom who has a stain in her shirt trying to get it out as they lift their shirt to dry under the hand dryer blower thingy.. yep that was me.. I gave the passing ladies a head nod and they gave me that look..yep..been there before.. after I got my stain out I then did something I never thought I would do and made me realize that I love my job.. I started to prospect in the Manchester Airport.. and I don't know if you readers know what that is or if you are on my mother's brain wave as she thought I was legitimately. getting the Manchester Airport as one of my clients.. ha funny ma..it is going around and looking at all the signage in the airport..writing down all the contact info and then going back and trying to get them as a client. yep, that was me.. on my phone writing down all the info I could and bumping into folks along the way...

As our flight finally took off in NH I started oh.. a 2hour and 24 min freak out session began  in the air as I frantically checked my Delta app on my phone to see if I was going to make my connection.. On this flight I had the whole row to myself.. and to one that might seem like a good thing.. but to a person who is coming off from her cocktails that eased the nerves, realizes that she has 10 min to make a connection in ATL and hates flying.. it was the worst scenario I could be in. I then became that person on the airplane that makes you nervous because they are constantly looking around in the plane, ease dropping on your convo and awkwardly smiling at you when you catch them looking at you. yep, that was me. I did however focus in on some intense convos.. I learned the life story of the two ladies kids behind me.. some bodies son's girlfriend is hiking the Appalachian Trail by herself (hero) and another ladies kid is going to be a doctor (potential husband) and then I also got to learn a whole new language as the guy diagonal to me was doing work on his lap top in like Arabic.. ha which increased my nerve scale by 20? About 20 min before landing.. I was claimed by the fact that my flight in ATL was delayed and would be on the same terminal as where we arrived. score.. it was for an hour which blew but at least I was going to make it.. everyone else was freaking out on the plane about their connections as well so I made it a new hobby of mine to look up their flights on my phone and not tell them about any updates.. yep. .I am heartless. I made it to ATL waited an hour and got on my flight to the home land!

The flight from ATL to MEM is a joke. really it feels like you go up the air for 2.5 seconds and then it’s over.. I liked it ha and the fact that I became BFF with the lady next to me.. who used to do sponsorship sales for the Navy. Boom. she was awesome and nice.. flight attendants (no offense Aunt Elaine) were rude and shafted me my bag of peanuts.. literally stopped the row ahead of me.. jerks.. I made it to the MEM airport and managed to go the wrong direction and couldn’t find Mom or Dad for like 10 minutes and kind of felt like they forgot about me.. all that talk about missing me then not showing up at baggage claim? how was I supposed to know you wanted me to walk in the main lobby! We embraced each other like I just came home from a mission trip or something.. Mission Granola that is.. which is still a complete fail ha.. and went to my fav local eatery spot.. Hueys..where I slammed some nachos and pita wrap all in like 30 min at 11 at night.. stopped by the famous Gibson’s donuts and then was welcomed home to my amazing best friend who decorated my room for me :) after I was a complete jerk to her after a day of traveling of course.. Tucker peed when he saw me and Charlie gave me the good head nod and what's up like I haven't even left. shock.




The next day was the big move out of Starkville which consisted of a 5AM workout.. leaving house by 9.. which turned into almost 10..Charlie sleeping the whole way and me listening to sports radio with dad half of the time..not to mention the lovely detour that UHAUL made us go onto Gordo, Alabama... that's right I said Alabama..last time I checked Starkville was in Miss.. I know this.. we ended up going to Gordo which was as Charles Long would say 45 min out of the way.. nope it was an hour... going to poe dunk mechanic shop to get our gigantic UHAUL for my 6 pieces of furniture and watching dad drive the thing like a beast into Stark.. then the moving part came.. and I had left alot more stuff than I thought.. meaning food in the fridge.. milk cheese you know the essentials that had been there for the past 2 months untouched.. yummy and all the things left in drawers... you don’t realize how much crap you pack in drawers and how long it takes to go through them all.. by the first 30 min all of us were soaked in sweat with the heat index being prob a 100 or so.. I am now spoiled with NH weather.. going from 70 to 98 in one day is overwhelming.. yep I am now a diva when it comes to the hot weather at home. Moving and cleaning was going smoothly until the faithful, besties showed up.. Allie and Lauren and then all my help was shot to hell ... We pretty much sat on each item that wasn't being moved..cushion surfing at one point while Dad and Charlie moved it all (by the way I have the best Dad and brother in this world... I don't know how I would have gotten it done without them) ..if it were up to me.. Me Allie and Lauren would all still be in APT F5 talking crap about everyone... ha  Dad and Charlie left in the glamorous UHAUL of a small cruise ship and Brooke got to town right when everything was complete.. how convenient.. joke.. she got to see our nursing home friend Karen.. totally jealous and I am so glad that she got to see her one more time and  wish I could of as well.. Allie went to Memphis.. shock bailing like usual :) to enjoy her wedding festivities and me Lauren and Brooke went for one more night out n Stark Vegas.. tame us now.. roaming with wolverines and we were on the prowl... it was a good night.. from what I remember.. me and Lauren did the usual pregaming while we waited on Brooke and I did the usual to everyone at the bar oh you want a drink? let me buy you one.. yep bought 10 shots that night for the bar..on dad's credit card ( now you know mom) and enjoyed seeing everyone.. apparently I was in a friendly mood as Brooke told me I was like a dog all night.. fetching people I knew.. didn't want to talk so I would bring them to her run off and repeat it all night.. at least I kept her entertained! I got to see sweet P (just gave you a shout out w/a pet name) watch out and somehow didn’t make it to taco bell.. supposedly as soon as we got back to Lauren's I face planted passed out on the couch and she took her shot at aiming in the toilet.. passed out and then it was my turn around 4AM to shoot for the commode.. ha I did that for about 2 hours in between my moaning that Brooke said sounded like a dying cow and passing out and snoring on and off I went to sleep,.. only to wake up to an excruciating migraine and ready for Mugshots at 730AM. solid. WE had a BFF lunch and then me n B headed out.. missing Lauren the second I left her.. my little UNH Law student ( I wish) watch out you criminals/social problem people or whoever walks into the court room my bestie is going to owning you on the stand... I think that is what it is called as she starts her journey in law school that she is going to do FABULOUS in :)!

After getting back home, it was then time for the ritual of family dominos.. which consists of an excuse for all of us family to get together and play dominos..rarely are other games allowed or even consider.. it is a great getaway from loving family time to battle of who can make the most smartalic comments to one another.. I sadly lost my rein as Domino Champion and decided to take my talents and winning ability to Taboo.. where me and Aunt Laurie are number one..two is not a winner..and three nobody remembers. it was a tough battle for the post of us to take the throne of Taboo superstars as we struggled over words like dip and the common mix up of chip and dale.. it doesn’t matter now.. we are the champions and everyone else who participated in that game on that night can..quite frankly.. suck it. in the kind and most loving way possible.. Sunday I got to enjoy Hope at church with the whole family..yeah that’s right Charlie came after his almost near death experience of canoeing on Spring River.. he got sucked in by the current that left him with horrible bruises and cuts all up and down his arms..I am so happy that he is okay though.. I couldn’t imagine going through that and literally climbing out of the water for your life..or maybe it is in my near future in my next kayaking experience... after church mom dad and I got to go visit Granddaddy and Grandmamma which would have to be my favorite visiting spot on my trip home. I love just being with them... My grandfather is the strongest man I know.. with his kind and loving heart and his sense of humor.. I hope to someday meet a guy that is half the man he and my dad are.. Grandmamma is a joy to be around..even in her stubborn ways.. she would do anything for anyone.. and plus hanging out with her gives me and excuse to go to the dollar store where Mom spends money on things I don’t really need for me :) I wish I would have had more time to spend with my grandparents and I can’t wait to see them  next time I get to go home! 

Monday was a day full of checking out Aunt Laurie's new crib..which is so perfect! I am so happy for her and her new place.. and the fact that no matter what my little cousins Maddie or MJ say.. I do have a room there over them. boom little ones.. I may be forever away,..but I still am claiming my room :) the rest of the day consisted of splurging at Target with the crew aka me Mom Aunt Laurie and Brooke Brooke.. when we are all out on the prowl the world seems so right :) even if it consists of convincing Aunt Laurie to buy me more sporty clothes and Lee Lee and me yelling at each other in the aisles and Brooke being my personal stylist..We hit up the new store Lee Lee had been raving on "Bargain World" which turned out to be far from a bargain.. leave it to lee lee.. you live and learn.. we managed to all walk out empty handed.. we finished the shopping session off at Pluto’s closet where I scored on some sweet new work clothes that I am still not 100% fit me right cause Brooke didn’t give me the final approval.. I guess I will take my chances! I loved that day at home.. I am so happy just to be with them all..makes me feel like time stood still and that I am not 23 hours away from each one of them sadly.. 

Tuesday was a day full of goodbyes and tears.. I didn't want to come back to the land of hamsters at all.. but I knew that work was waiting on me as I got 25 emails the time I was out of the office.. I cried saying bye to Mom and Dad and even Tucker.. not to mention my boo who session saying bye to Brooke (just for 10 days though cause she will be here SATURDAY AND  I CANT WAIT!!!)  I didn't have any  exciting airplane buddies on the way back and my flights were actually both on time which was weird! 













I got back into the land of hamsters at like 11 at night and greeted with arms wide open to the nice, not humid air as I walked out of the airport.. last week consisted of me catching up and realizing how fast the day goes when you barely take time to breathe due to the work overload.. I was ready for the weekend by Friday..and oh the Friday night experience I got.. the wonderful adventures of Maine that was ahead of me.. I will finish this blog by telling you about this I think I will call it Maniac Maine Experience...

Just some side note info before I start this story..the state line to Maine from where I live is maybe 10 minutes away..it is hard to miss it.. I loved every minute of this adventure no joke and I can't wait to see what Maine has in store for me next time.. okay.. so..I was so kindly invited by Ashley to come out to her little brother, Andrew's birthday celebration last week... I was excited to go to meet this kid that she says is so cool and to see her "Lincoln Log" home.. nervous to see what I was going to encounter.. but excited. I started this journey off by getting lost.. surprising I know..it all due to the fact that my GPS did not register Ashley’s street as being a real street so I had to rely on my wonderful, gets you lost all the time GPS on my phone..that started saying my destination was 12 minutes away which slowly went up to 30 minutes away.. at this point I broke down all sense of my pride and admitted to Ashley I was lost.. I found myself in car town USA.. where I had car dealerships on both sides of me, a key and lock shop and a windshield shop all within the same 2 street lights on a road.. that said I was heading North.. but clearly in the wrong direction.. I finally pulled over and gave my Maggie aka the Magellan GPS that the lovely Aunt Laurie gave me to relook up the address and to my surprise..guess what... I typed in the wrong town to search for the street for.. me make a mistake like that no way? well good news was that Ashley's street was real and that this wasn't a mad setup for some Maine maniacs to accidentally get me lost in the land of maines and have me disappear forever.. aka this wasn't a Law and Order Criminal Minds real life episode and I was going to hopefully make it to her house in one piece.. here is another side note... Maine isn't what we Southern folk imagine it to be.. to describe the Maine I was in the easiest way would be to take a drive from Memphis to Starkville.. after you hit Tupelo.. look around you as you drive towards West Point and you got it.. now take the people you see in West Point (big trucks, camo and loud pipes) and you have the people I saw as I drove through these Maine towns...not to mention the curvy country roads that exist where you feel like you are in a valley one minute and the next you are driving up an abnormally large hill.. yep that is Maine.. as I pass my destination like 3 times I finally find myself pulling my car back in reverse and turning down this gravel road where to my surprise I find a whole family out on the front lawn/porch area staring at me..like I am a complete idiot.. well they have it about right.. I managed to park in the wrong place next to the life-size Lincoln Log house that I want to someday live in cause I love it so much and am greeted by a howling dog that finds it a hobby to stand right in front of my car and bark at me.. talk about a good ole fashion entrance.. as I sit down and realize that I am at a legit bday celebration with mom dad and the grandparents who by the way have the most adorable accent of Northern Yankee and some southern dialogue that I could listen to for hours.. I begin to feel more and more at home and in my own element.. not to mention I was awarded for my journey with a wonderful dinner that consisted of green beans freshly picked from the garden and a big serving of applesauce :) I then come to find out that the grandparents are quite fond of the King of Rock n Roll and instantly I start shooting the talk easier.. in the midst of all my conversations I learn the following things about the people I am with and my surroundings:
There is a pond around back the Lincoln Log home
Andrew has ducks in that pond.. they are named I forgot though.. I know horrible guest
Andrew also has chickens that have feathers that resemble afros
Ashley is some Motocross National star and has a trophy room
Ashley has a trophy that is taller than me
Ashley never told me that whenever I was with her I was in the presence of a dirt bike legend.
Andrew's favorite bday present was his waders? like the things with suspenders you but on and walk through ponds in.. they were awesome and I made him model
Andrew also got a new bb pellet gun for his bday
Andrew has his own fort in the woods past the pond..it is life changing I am talking like lights, TV, stereo and  bed bunks with a sweet fire pit
I am a hockey star and can dangle folks left and right in the drive way
I am also a around the world bball star as I shot nothing but net all night as I wore my Toms like a champ
I have a new 14 year old bf named Jimmy.. Andrew's friend. he is pretty hot and we are super in love.
I now have officially made a smore by a camp fire
If you wear steel boots that cost in the range of 175-275 dollars.. you can set them on fire and it won’t hurt you until the fire hits the steel part.. yes this happened and yes I documented it 
Four wheelers in dirt bike language are called something along the lines of training wheels
I am a natural at shooting a gun..
Last but not least which requires more details is.. I know what "Wood scar" means now..

As I showed off my hockey skills in the driveway I noticed that Andrew had disappeared with his friend and had not driven his dad's truck over to this car that is like no other.. I had noticed this car earlier but didn't take much consideration into it.. I knew that Ashley said that she use to drive a crappy car..that this car was.. with more stickers on the front than one could imagine.. cracked windshield and I think there may have been a few spray paint marks here and there.. but little did I know that it was turned into the death ride of my life.. as I see jumper cables being pulled out of the truck, detached by the grandfather while still sparking and hooked up to the "Wood scar" I put two and two together.. this kid was about to drive this car in the woods. hints the name.. I am a dumb blonde. that apparently has a bad accent and looks 17 according to these kids but that is besides the point.. I then start analyzing the situation and wonder if I will be getting in this vehicle to take on the tasty trails of the woods.. after 5 seconds of contemplating.. I hopped in the Wood scar.. and as soon as I sat down and got my butt soaked in water and leaves.. I realized this was a bad idea.. what was I thinking in a car with a 13 year old driving me around.. oh well I learned to embrace the situation as he went 0-40 in about 2 seconds.. almost flipped multiple times and managed to scrap the car next or get the closest to every tree he could.. which resulted in me almost getting knocked out as these branches came inside the rolled own broken window.. all of the speed bumps and occasional almost tipping over was thrilling and all.. but my fav moment would have to be a tie between pulling the emergency brake and doing donuts, trying to literally knock the car door ajar by pulling back and forth to knock the door off or prob the last tie which would be when the Wood scar finally ran out of gas..yep that would have to be the winner.. I thanked the big man upstairs for that move as I got out of the car and towards the Lincoln Log house.. the rest of the night was a slower pace of smores and camp fire and the fort with the occasional Jimmy setting his boot on fire. yep all in my entire Maine trip was quite the experience.. would probably go under the category of granola, life changing and dangerous all at once. Side not to all of this though.. is that I can't wait to go again no joke.. that family is amazing. .so is the Lincoln Log house and 150 acres of woods. I hope to see this being my new granola hang spot.. if my Southern accent and charm is welcomed back of course..




Well I think I have written a mini novel by now and summed my past week or so up enough for you all...don't forget that my bday is next week and I accept presents with open arms and don't forget to watch my obsession Hope Solo win gold.. not like I have already tweeted at her 4 times since the Olympics.. our relationship will be tested next week to see if she tweets me happy bday again.. we can only hope.. get it.. boom.

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