Bass Pro Shop

Good Thursday morning!

I have a few things to talk to you about before today's story and date.

First, remember to visit the blog next Tuesday (March 10) even if you don't visit any other day. Some people have had problems leaving comments on the blog at one time or another, so if you can't leave your Word of the Day (Scrapbook, Restaurant, Magazine) directly on the comment section, plan on leaving it by e-mail. They both count. Your comment can be left any time between 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning until 12:00 midnight Tuesday night. The winner will be announced on Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. Again, it's not a huge prize, but it is a fun prize.

Second, as I said yesterday, I have a little idea for all of us to do together next week. Remember, you'll need a piece of paper and a pen. It will take about one minute at the end of each day (Monday through Friday). You can share some of your "homework," or just keep it to yourself. It is up to you. I'll explain the details tomorrow.

Third, tomorrow I will share my TV review. I did find out Jon & Kate are having a season finale soon. I'm not exactly sure when, but I think it will be in the next week or so. In saying that, Mike and I were surprised when they announced Celebrity Apprentice was coming back last week. I'm sorry. Mike and I love Celebrity Apprentice. But something has to go. I know in the next eight weeks or so, everything will be over until the fall and winter months, and we will not be watching TV. Why on earth did they schedule six shows at the same time? Why don't they spread it out? Why doesn't anyone ask my opinion before they do things like this? It is one of life's great mysteries.

That said, I'll be adding Celebrity Apprentice to the TV review list tomorrow. (I'm so ashamed.)

I'm going to share another tornado story with you today. I had forgotten about this one for some reason.

A few years ago, my tea friends and I had our annual Christmas Tea at The Chocolate Biscuit in Trussville. The theme for this tea was Celebration of Family. We invited mothers and daughters to this tea. It was very nice and decorated for Christmas. Music was playing... the food was delicious. It was a wonderful tea... perhaps the best we had ever had. Until...

It was a fairly warm day in December. It wasn't hot, but it definitely wasn't Christmas weather. There was nothing about the day which would have made us think we were going to have a tornado in December. It's not impossible, but it is a little odd (even in Alabama).

Fortunately, we were finished with our lunch and we were at the cash register paying for our meals when we heard the infamous Alabama siren. Was it 10:00 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month when they test the tornado sirens? Nope. Were trumpeting elephants nearby? Nope. Was the sky an ominous color of greenish gray? Nope. Did we hear sounds similar to a freight train nearby? Well, yes. But The Chocolate Biscuit is beside the train tracks. Now what?

Three or four of our group had already paid, my Mom being one of them. She lives only a minute away from the restaurant, so she had said her good-byes and left before the sirens went off. Needless to say, we were not in a safe place. Think, think, think. I told the women who were left in line paying we would go to my Mom's basement. Only one minute away and underground. This would be a much better plan than the "take our time and go to the mall in a tornado" plan I had used years earlier.

Unfortunately, the sirens made the little cashier very nervous, and she had an extremely difficult time taking our credit cards, cash, change... anything. The longer she took, the louder the sirens and the more nervous everyone became. "Why doesn't she just let us find shelter, and we'll all come back and pay when the tornado passes?" we whispered to each other. Obviously, she had been told TO GET THE MONEY, and that is exactly what she was going to do.

While waiting in line, I called my Mom. "Mom, did you hear the sirens?"

"Oh. I wasn't paying attention."

My Mom never pays attention to sirens. "Well, we need some shelter, and I was wondering if we could sit in your basement for a little while until it blows over?" A pause. Not good. A pause in a tornado is never good.

"Well, that's fine. My basement is just a mess," she replied. On it's worse day, my Mom's basement is better than anyone else's living room on it's best day. She is an immaculate housekeeper... basement included.

"That's okay. We're not going to make it if we have to stay here," I said dramatically.

"Okay. The door will be open. I'm going to go down and straighten it up a little bit."

That was probably the only time my Mom had ever gone down in the basement during a tornado warning... to straighten it up for company.

When we finally all paid (a MILLION minutes later), we headed to my Mom's and got there just as another siren was going off. We parked our cars and ran into the basement. Mom had set up chairs in a large semi-circle for comfort. The first thing everyone said as they came into the basement was how nice it looked. (I'm not kidding. It's a great looking basement.)

We all sat and talked and laughed (and talked some more) as the danger passed. Once again, we were fortunate and the tornado missed our little section of the world that Saturday in December. What we had thought would be our favorite tea out of the 12 we were having had definitely turned into our most dangerous and exciting tea. And although it was indeed an unforgettable memory, I don't think tea is ever supposed to be described as "dangerous and exciting." Maybe "elegant" or "divine," but never ever "dangerous."

And that's what I have journaled in my scrapbook. Instead of calling it a "Celebration of Family," I have renamed this tea a "Celebration of Danger, Danger, Danger." Who knows? In two years when we have completed the 12 Years of Christmas Teas, it may very well be everyone's "favorite."

Bass Pro Shop

This will be an excellent, inexpensive date for a Dad and a child (boy or girl) with similar interests. The new Bass Pro Shop located in Leeds is wonderful, and you can easily spend one or two ENJOYABLE hours in the store. They have race car simulators ($6 a ride); a small fudge shop; a small sandwich shop; and a place to have your picture taken in a certain position. You look it up on the Internet a few days later, and the picture looks like you've caught a big fish. It is a huge store, so if you love fishing, hunting, etc., you will love spending time here.

The simulator is fun. You can plan on having lunch or a snack in the store. You can have your picture made. You can have a few extra dollars to purchase lures or other inexpensive fishing equipment. You can purchase inexpensive items if you are a hunter (caps, targets, etc.). Or you can just look to your heart's content.

What makes this date fun is sharing something you and your son (or daughter) both really, really enjoy. Mike, Austin, Josh and Roxie were there for two hours. While all three enjoyed the store, Mike and Roxie were the ones not ready to leave.

This date will not work if you are the only one interested in the Bass Pro Shop and all it offers. Make sure the child you take on this date is just as excited about these things as you are. It is an easy, fun, inexpensive way to spend one or two hours one-on-one with your child. While you're there, you can also plan your next fishing/hunting trip. (Another good date!)

As I said earlier, next week WILL definitely be for anyone/anywhere. And one part of the date will be for kids of all ages. I promise!!

Have a great Thursday. I'll have a great book on tape for you tomorrow. Since Spring Break is just around the corner, you can have this book ready for the whole family to listen to in the car on the way to a vacation destination, or each night before everyone goes to bed (especially since there will be no homework).

I'll talk to you tomorrow.