God and His silly sense of Humor

rivalry [ˈraɪvəlrɪ]

1. the act of rivalling; competition

2. the state of being a rival or rivals

rivalrous  adj

 

Pepsi vs. Coke
Leno vs. Letterman
North vs. South
Alabama vs. Auburn

Sylvania vs. Plainview

A humorous story is building here on the Homefront. 

It is terrible that schools were destroyed in all the storms. One local school that my FSIL attends will not be safe for students to return to for quite sometime.  Since this is the case they will be modifying the curriculum and sharing a nearby school's facilities. One school will use the facilities from 7:30-12:00 and the other will be there from 1:00-5:30. Sounds like a reasonable plan to most people.

BUT.

These two schools are die-hard rivals. 
My mother graduated from one of these schools over 30 years ago.
She STILL points out which people are from "PLAINVIEW"

Scotty and I are totally scandalous

I was a Sylvania Ram, He was a Plainview Bear
FSIL Em will be a Bram. 

A Plainvania Bram

It makes me giggle like a littlle school girl, not even going to lie. 

I still have pride in my school, its a large part of who I am. 

the rivalry was a huge part of our communities 

its a fun rivalry, it does get intense with anything competitive

Seeing the looks on E's face when I gave her the news was PRICELESS.

They still do not have power so I got to deliver the news. 

It was like Christmas to me :)
I even pulled out some old Green Sylvania shirts for her to wear.

Flashback Friday

Once again I am linking up with Sweet Bef for Flashback Friday.

Check it out and join in.
Sweet Bef is a hilarious Ginger, and next week I will be sharing how My Ginger and I fell in Love.

In elementary school we had a  Christmas program each year
and each year we got uglier and more off key 

EnJoy!

 

3rd Grade
Somebody Snitched on Me

 

2nd Grade

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause

Yeh I am pretty much still precious at this age.
Check out those angelic dimples

 4th Grade

I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Clause

I meant business with my lime green bandana

 

5th Grade Field Trip
Yeh that's Me in the purple in the back.
Obviously not capable of dressing myself even then.

Guilt

With all the devastation surrounding I cannot help but feel guilty.
There are so many at home going without a home, power, food, anything and yet here I am sitting comfortably in my new apartment and just 6 days ago I was complaining about not having the extra money for new Pottery Barn curtains. As part of my graduation gift Scotty took me on a casino cruise and a night at a resort in North Myrtle Beach.  I felt so ungrateful, it was so hard to enjoy any of it because I cannot keep my mind off the hurt at home.  I wouldn't even play nickel slots because I wanted to give the money to the relief efforts. Scotty just doesn't understand how badly it is hurting me to not be giving back 24/7.  I always want to help.  If I have $1 to my name and someone needs it, then its theirs and I am almost appalled by the fact that not everyone feels that way. 
Regardless we had a great time once I realized that there is always heartbreak in this world, and that the great thing about the human spirit is that it always prevails.
Wednesday morning I will be packing up and heading back to DeKalb County
Thursday I will be heading to Tuscaloosa
I pray that I can help as many people as possible in the time that I am there.

The Unlikely Christian Phrase

There will be a special part of Hell set aside fir those guys....
In all the destruction we have seen this week I think I am even more disheartened at the actions of people in the affected areas. Yesterday a service sector of Tuscaloosa released an emergency notification for all females in Tuscaloosa. Apparently there is a gang that is using small children to pretend like they can't find their families. When you comfort the child they give you an address then while you try to return the child the members rape you. I know this is very Urban Legendish but the fact that in all that has occurred the city took time to release a statement I really hope it isn't true

Cry Out to Jesus

Let me start by saving that we serve a Risen Savior and I know we are not in this alone. 
Secondly, I apologize in advance for the brutalness of this post.  Many pictures of the damage will be shown. 

I am beyond devastated at what happened. 
My hometown and entire county was hit twice.
In between those storms the city I have called home for the past 3 years was completely ripped apart. 
In the plain states you see large, powerful tornadoes, and if you live in the South you are accustomed to having frequent tornadoes.  But the power, size, and number of tornadoes we experienced Wednesday is absolutely unheard of.  The first round of storms in my hometown knocked out power and cell service for many.  Everyone was reporting structural damage and such which is expected.  What isn't expected is a 2nd round with a tornado over a mile wide.  A majority of the folks at home were without power and not aware that the 2nd round was coming.  That's what got everyone in trouble.  It ran right down the center of our county hitting every city along the way.
I have seen reports from so many that I know, that have lost everything I don't even know where to begin to help.  So many are still missing and since there is little cell service it is hard to contact anyone.  The damage is so widespread that volunteers are pouring in from all over the United States to search for survivors and help provide housing assistance. 
And here is where the guilt sets in. I'M NOT THERE TO HELP
Scotty got a job in South Carolina, since we are getting married in December, I was hoping to find a job in S.C. 
My last day of classes was Friday so my parents helped pack me up and move me on up here so I could job hunt.  I have gotten PLENTY of nasty comments regarding us living in sin.  We are not actually living together as of yet. I am staying here 10 days then going home for the rest of the summer, yet I keep getting snide remarks from everyone.  Especially when everyone was calling to check on me and I had to reveal that I am not in Tuscaloosa, nor am I at home.  I am here perfectly safe. 

 This is the school one street over from my apartment building.  An Elementary School, that had been dismissed already.

 This is at my apartments, this would be from my front door looking towards 25th Ave. Words cannot even express how I feel about this. I was there 5 days ago.

This is my next door neighboor standing in the parking lot.  The two cars belong to the people who lived below me. 

Another shot from my parking lot, this girl lived on the other side of me. I am in complete disbelief. This part of town is horrible, It is close to many housing projects. At last count there were still over 100+ people missing in the area.  Many of them were relatives or students I worked with just 5 days ago. My heart is so heavy.  Those kids drove me crazy but what I wouldn't give to be there to hug and comfort them now.

This is the 15th street/ McFarland portion of town, many college students lost their lives, including three friends from back home.

 An Aeriel view from Hardees on 15th looking over Midtown Village shopping Center

 This is the McDonalds on 15th Street.

I cannot image being there, but at the same time my heart breaks because I am not.
Pray, Pray, Pray

Why Baby, Cry Baby

Wow My time in T-town is drawing to a close. 
This time next week I will be with Scotty in our apartment in an entirely different state.
I have watched my friends cry at the end (or smack in the middle ) of every class this week.
I have not been feeling it. AT ALL.
Pure joy and impatience have been my only two emotions.
Until yesterday. 
Yesterday was A-Day. 4 years ago Scotty was at A-Day without me and we met that night.
Yesterday I was at A-Day without him, walking into Bryant Denny Stadium for the last time as a college student.
Thank goodness I was surrounded by 100,000+ people or I would have been SOBBING.
I love Football
I love Alabama Football
Win or Lose. Good Season or Bad. 
Seeing the White Pants and the Crimson Stripe.  Those simple helmets that haven't changed in my lifetime. 
I think that's what I love so much its the constant in my life. 
I know from September til Thanksgiving each Saturday is reserved for the Crimson Tide. 
I will watch the pre game video and yell BOOM with all my might.
I will sing the modified version of Dixieland Delight and watch parents cringe.
All kickoffs will always start with "Rooooolllll Tiiiiiiiddddeeee Roll!"
I know I will always hear "At some places they play football at Alabama We LIVE it."

There is will always be a little girl with a head full of curls seeing Big Al and the Cheerleaders for the first time.

My favorite Swoon-Worthy players will always come back to see me. :)

Greg McElroy you made Smart Read Heads attractive, And Preston Dial ...... Oh Jeans have never looked better.! I have more photos of Preston Dial than all other players together. 

One of God's most beautiful specimens. Going to Miss that Boy. Cried in Orlando when he left the field So I sure was surprised to see him come back.
All of this is what I am having a hard time leaving.
I know we will be back for games in the future, but I have not missed a home game in 3 years.  I have only witnessed Alabama lose 1 game. EVER.  Am I the lucky charm? Most likely not but I like to think so. 
I am going to miss the loud night games, the perfect weather of early games, ESPN on the stadium plaza, the official red/white shakers, Big Al's antics, the smell of Dreamland BBQ wafting through the air.  Seeing dads explain the game to their sons and moms showing their daughters how to walk up the bleachers in heels. 
Tuscaloosa is Disneyworld to me.  I am so ready to move on.  I am tired of being here alone, but I will miss Saturdays. I will ALWAYS miss gameday Saturdays.  I suppose it is a part of life. One that I am struggling to let go of. 
Alabama Football has been the unchanging part of this crazy life and I suppose it will never change.  Its time to let go and move on.  So Long
Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you,
Hit your stride.
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's his shame!
For Bama's pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then.
Roll on to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride,
Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!

Transition Time

I have heard other people talk about Army Wives for a while now but I have never watched it until NOW.  Thanks to Netflix and my allergies I have been spending more time inside this past week.  So far I have finished the first two seasons and have gotten a good start on the 3rd.  This is like a good book that I never want to finish. I. AM. HOOKED.
Life has been a bit crazy with finishing up student teaching, and getting ready to move.  Most of all I am lonely beyond belief.  I have so much to do and to be honest I have become anti social AGAIN.  I only have two weeks left with all these people and I need to ease myself out.  I am not good with changes minor or major.  Mostly right now I just miss Scotty. It has been a month today since the last time I saw him.  I don't like it at all.  I've come to realize that maybe that's why I am looking so forward to moving in with him.  We have been together for 4 years, 3 of those we have spent apart. It is difficult when we a both used to living alone for the most part.  We have our own lives, schedules, and way of doing things. Then every 3 weeks or so we have to make these 2 separate lives mesh into one for 3 days then its back to our separate ways again. 
Its Frustrating
Yes I know that living together and getting married is joining two separate lives but its different.  Once we are together WE will have a life, WE will have a routine, WE will have a way of doing things.  I know there is no fairy tale and it will not be perfect but it will be much better than what we have now.
Plus, we will be together :)
Although I will be back and forth between the new-home and home-home, I still think our decision for me to move in now is the best. I need this transiition time to get adjusted to a new city, new region, Scotty having a full time job, and no longer being an overwhelmed college student. cannot wait to be there to finally be able to relax for the first time in ages see my Scotty. :)