BAM Date

Good Thursday morning!

NOTE at 3:45 P.M. - Complete and utter basket-case. I've made Austin say his speech to me three more times. I continue to weep each and every time. I cannot help but think tonight isn't going to be much better. I know I'm being "negative." (I need large amounts of chocolate. Diabetes makes this impossible. Rice cakes are not hitting the spot!)

NOTE at 5:03 P.M. - Breathing much better now. I have taken massive amounts of drugs. If I am able to stay awake, everything should be very enjoyable. (Roxie is having a bad hair day. I considered giving her drugs, too. Just kidding. She's going to have to make it on her own!)

Well, last night was going great... until Jamin, the Student Minister, called all the seniors to the front of the church at the end of the service, and invited all parents to come down to the altar to pray with them. It was hard getting to Austin since he was standing in the middle, and we had to go through the multitudes. When we finally made it to him, he hugged me and Mike tightly and close while Pastor Kevin prayed. I don't think he's hugged me that tightly and for that long since he was a little, little guy. It was sweet and wonderful and sad, and I cried on his robe and National Honor Society Sash... a lot. (There are now water spots on his robe and sash which I have to get out by tomorrow night. It always comes back to laundry... which, by the way, also makes me cry!)

I took a ton of video and pictures, but I only used my good camera. Tomorrow night at the real ceremony, I will be using ALL the camera equipment I own, so I'll be able to post Austin in all his Senior Glory!

The Showcase Pic today is of Roxie wearing a cowboy hat. The new pictures in the Gallery are of more hat pictures as we walked in Downtown Nashville. I'm telling you, there's something about Nashville that makes you want to wear a hat and try on boots. Maybe because there are hat and boot stores galore on the main drag. The boys were determined to find the right hat, and they did. Roxie loved trying them on, but being ever practical, she decided to purchase something she would get a lot of wear out of... a pretty orange Nashville T-shirt and an equally pretty little ring with a black note on the top. She wore her T-shirt today as a matter of fact.

Josh has always said he loves walking through a new city. Whether it's Atlanta, Memphis or now, Nashville, they all love to window shop, explore, and "get the feel" of the city we're visiting. And Nashville is great for that because there's so much music everywhere. And if there's one thing the Faulkner Five love more than Barry Manilow, it's good country music.

Which brings me to the final pictures of our trip. We visited The Wildhorse Saloon, owned and operated by one Reba McEntire. More on that fun adventure tomorrow.

Weekend Family Fun

I know this isn't really "weekend" because these movies are shown on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. during the summer. However, they are FREE. It is first come-first serve as far as seating is concerned, and the movies are held at the Trussville Stadium 16 Theater. Call 661-9994 before you head out (just to be sure everything is on schedule), and then mark your calendars for the FREE movies you and your guys might be interested in this summer.

06/02/2009-06/03/2009 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)

06/09/2009-06/10/2009 Space Chimps (G)
Firehouse Dog (PG)

06/16/2009-06/17/2009 Horton Hears A Who (G)
Flicka (PG)

06/23/2009-06/24/2009 Rugrats: The Movie (G)

06/30/2009-07/01/2009 Wallace And Gromit (G)
Bee Movie (PG)

07/07/2009-07/08/2009 The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
Igor (PG)

07/14/2009-07/15/2009 Mr. Bean's Holiday (G)
Shrek The Third (PG)

07/21/2009-07/22/2009 Doogal (G)
Hoodwinked (PG)

07/28/2009-07/29/2009 Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
Evan Almighty (PG)

BAM Date

I categorized this date for teenager or spouse because, in our family, that is who enjoys this date the most. Mikie and I usually end up an evening date with some time spent in a local Books-A-Million or Barnes and Noble. We love book stores. I look in the Travel Section and Children's Book and Magazines, while he looks in the Civil War area. We meet somewhere in the middle where he buys me a ridiculously expensive coffee drink (and a plain black coffee for himself), and we sit around and talk and look at the magazines and talk some more.

Not much of a date, you may say. But if you and yours love books, it's a wonderful date. If you're able to take your teenager and pick out a paperback together they enjoy and then enjoy a snack, that's great. Just seeing different articles in magazines or books on the Top Ten Best Seller's List make for great conversation starters you might not otherwise have.

Not only does it give you an opportunity to talk, talk, talk... you might learn something you didn't know about your date. Mikie was surprised the first time he saw me hanging out in the Travel Section. (I, on the other hand, being married to a "plaque reader," was not surprised to find him in the Civil War Section. I would have been shocked if he hadn't gone there!) I also have started enjoying the Cooking Section of the bookstore. It's really a place to learn and grow and cultivate new interests.

It may not be your longest date, but it is an enjoyable way to pass an hour or two. Try it. You might really like it!

Have a fabulous Thursday. Tomorrow I'll post a book for women I've loved for over a decade. I'll try to have a little TV Review, too.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.