Change of Scenery

I have some exciting news: I have a new job!! I will be the public information specialist (public relations) at the state's department of veterans affairs. I turned in my notice this week at work. Talk about surreal. I have been with the organization since college so it is quite a change for me. Not to mention that I will go from a work place full of women to one full of men, military men.

I am so excited about the new position but also nervous. I believe this job will open so many doors and afford me a lot of great opportunities. It will be humbling to work for an organization that serves those who have served our country in the armed forces.

I am not sure of my office location yet, I found out today that it will either be at an old military base in North Little Rock (overlooking the Arkansas River) or at an administrative office located at a veterans cemetery. As odd as it sounds, I like the latter as the grounds are beautiful and the office is very nice.

I start in a little over two weeks. Wish me luck!!

You Know you Need to Review Your Tornado Safety When...

In a matter of days Arkansas has been pounded by severe weather.

Last Thursday night the entire state was hit by a storm system that eventually killed over 40 people across the country. In our state, alone, seven people died.

Thank goodness, we made it through but not without a story.

My college BF Laura and her husband stayed Thursday and Friday nights with us because Cory had a conference in Little Rock. When we went to bed Thursday night we knew that storms were moving to central Arkansas but did not think it was going to be too dangerous.

Around 1:30 A.M. I heard the sweet voice of Laura come in our bedroom, "Kendall, I think the tornado sirens are going off." I got out of bed, started watching the weather and was quite relieved to hear the tornado threat was North of us. Because Beau was still asleep we went to the guest bedroom to watch the weather reports.

As we were watching our trusty weatherman he pointed out that something concerned him, a hook on the radar that had just appeared. I believe he said something like, "Oh this doesn't look good here" and circled the new danger zone which just so happened to be right above our heads. No sooner did those words leave his mouth did the satellite lose it's signal. There's something about the t.v. going blank that really freaks me out so it did not help when we heard a distant roar. Laura and I quickly made eye contact as if to say, "Do you hear that too?" We live close to tracks so I was hoping it was just a train. However, as the sound got closer and closer it sounded nothing like a train. It was just like the sound of the jet engines on a plane, right before take off. My heart jumped in my throat and I took off running across the house to wake up Beau. When I yelled for him he jumped up and started grabbing for his gun. I was all, "Easy there, Mr. NRA. It's a tornado not a break in."

Discussions took place about where the safest place would be for us to go (the Red Cross would not be happy with our non-plan.) Mind you, if a tornado had been coming right for our house, we would all be dead. Except Mamie. I have a feeling she would have survived and her sad story about being blown 200 yards from her home to a muddy ditch would have aired on the nightly national news along with a live shot of the mutt flashing her shelter eyes to the camera that would say, "I swear, my previous owners never fed or petted me and certainly never let me sleep in their bed with them at night", hundreds of people would offer to adopt her and after reviewing the candidates herself, she would choose to live with some millionaire cattle rancher in Montana who would allow her to play with squeaky toys full of cotton stuffing, she would eat steak every night from a golden bowl and have a paid, full-time belly/ear rubber follow her around 24 hours a day. But I digress.

Laura, Me and Mamie got in the hallway with pillows until Beau told us to get in the laundry room, so we did. All of us, in the laundry room, pillows in hand, doors shut in pitch black. Had we lost electricity? No, it just never occurred to us to turn the light on. I did have my cell phone to look at radar (like I would know how to spot a tornado on Doppler) and from the light of it, we could see Mamie starring at us with a look of, "You people have all gone mad pulling me out of bed in the middle of the night to just stand here in the dark."

A second before we all decided the danger had past Beau said, "Wait a minute. We shouldn't get in the laundry room in a tornado because a portion of it is an exterior wall." GREAT. You mean to tell me that after debating the safest place for us to go as a tornado was over our heads and removing Laura, me and the mutt from what was probably, after all, the safest location in the house, you relocated us to a room that not only has an exterior wall, but contains two large machines that would probably crush us all as that exterior wall gave way.

Luckily, we were all safe and had no damage. There was, in fact, a tornado that touched down not too far from us. Do we have any way to tell that it was the beginnings of a tornado that went over our house? No, but I do know that it was a little too close for comfort.

The storm dodging did not end with that, however. Three nights ago there was another system that swept through the state bringing with it more tornado warnings for our county.

After the debacle that occurred while Laura and Cory were here, we decided that the safest place for us to go would be the hallway coat closet as it is the most interior location of the house and is not close to windows. As the tornado sirens went off we made our way there calmly and smoothly. Smooth until Mamie decided she wasn't getting in there with us. If you have read this blog for more than four seconds you probably know how we feel about her so instead of risking the dog's life we freaked out and started the safest location debate allllllllll over again.

We then made way to our bedroom closet, not an exterior wall and could hold a small army (I've said it before on here, it was the selling point for me on the house.) So we sat and waited and waited and waited some more. Once the all clear was sounded we piled out. An hour later, we were back. I'm amused at how little attention Mamie pays to storms. They bother her not. Most dogs I know freak in bad weather by hiding under the bed. My sister once had a cocker spaniel that always hid in the bathtub. What was our dog doing in our tornado safe place/closet during the hail, rain, wind, lightening and thunder that was taking place over our heads?

That's right, not a care in the world.

So thankful we were kept safe again. I would love to avoid any more of those close calls. I also know that as long as I live in Arkansas, the above probably won't happen.

A Family Tree to a Four Year Old

My sister called me this morning to share a conversation that had just taken place between her and my four year old nephew, Carson.

Carson: Is Naunie (my brother-in-law's mom) my grandma?

My sister: Yes. Who is your other grandma?

Carson: Hmmmmmmm Kendall?

My sister: Very good, Carson.

When she called I could hear him in the background saying, "Grandma Kendall, Grandma Kendall, Grandma Kendall."

Guess it's a little early to explain the third cousin twice removed concept.

Good News: Mosquito Hawk Consumption Didn't Kill Her

She's still kicking. Or in her case, stealing people's seats when they get up to use the restroom.

Grandmother

Today is not just another day. For my family, it's a sad anniversary. Two years ago we lost Grandmother. Her death was particularly hard in its manner; a car wreck. You expect grandparents to die from the illnesses that typically take the elderly but never an accident.

While we all miss her tremendously it is comforting to know that we will be reunited with her in heaven. Time heals but luckily can never steal the memory of Grandmother.

Her laugh. It is, quite possibly, her most memorable attribute. The roar could be heard throughout the house and always resorted to a snort. It was contagious and a coveted reaction you sought with stories.

Her voice was the first one I ever recognized to be "southern". Oddly enough, she managed to say a few words with a northern note.

You did your best to never make her mad as a child because the punishment was harsh, a fly swatter.

Once she made her mind up on a person's character, nothing would change it. Bringing boyfriends and friends for a first impression meeting with her was more stressful on us than them.

She shared her opinion freely, whether invited or not.

She was a collector of animals, alive and inanimate. With every visit we met a new dog, cat, chicken, goat, turkey, guinea, rooster or pig. Most rescued by her and my grandad. Her home was filled with scores of chicken decor and teddy bears. Although not my style, it made for easy gift giving. You knew that regardless of what you gave her, it would be proudly displayed in her home.

She had a way of making each of us grandchildren feel unique. We were individually recognized and made to feel a stand out. She gave each of us our own nickname early on which she used up until our last reference. Childhood overnight visits meant we would have our own box of cereal even if she had to purchase multiple varieties. Small as it may seem, it went along with countless lessons of embracing our individuality. Of course at the time it meant you didn't have to share cereal with anyone else.

She was a true matriarch. The family revolved around her and she knew it. Missing her planned gatherings in their entirety or by an hour meant you were due a guilt inducing speech the second you were spotted.

Because she was that strong figure no holiday, function or family conversation has been the same since. She left a lasting impression on us. Something that will never fade as it will be passed down to generations to come.

We love her and miss her but are thankful for the time we had with our Grandmother.

My Latest Google Search

How many mosquito hawks would it take for a dog to consume to be considered poisonous?

Our Weekend in TX

We had the best time in and around Dallas last weekend. Basically we ate, shopped and hung out with this cutie:

This is Jack. He is Jill's (Courtney's cousin) baby. Since Jill's husband was away for work, Jack went pretty much everywhere with us and was perfect.

Friday morning we drove to Canton, Texas. It is a giant trade show/flea market with hundreds upon hundred of vendors. Every weekend (Friday - Monday) that falls before the first Monday of the month, this tiny little town's population easily grows by 300,000 people for the event.

There is furniture, decor, antiques, clothes, plants and food for sale.

I got the above picture from Google to give you an idea.

I took this inside of one of the many indoor vendor areas. It was insane. Although there were tons of things I wanted to buy, I left with ONE purchase; a red Razorback dress to wear to football games. It is super cute.

Since we were at Canton practically all day we ate lunch there. We had tons of food choices but because I'm twelve years old I ate a giant corn dog.

Group picture with Jill (far right) and Jack.

He was a total ladies' man in Canton. But how could you resist him?

Irish took this picture of me standing in the bathroom stalls since we had just had a not-so-pleasant restroom experience. There were shower curtains instead of doors, the stall was tiny - you practically were standing on the toilet upon entering and you could see the person next to you. It almost gave this modest girl an anxiety attack.

Speaking of attacks, I experienced non-stop allergies because of this: It was pollen-palooza in Texas.

This is after dinner one night.

We ate some amazing fajitas

Apparently we didn't take too many scenery photos, just of ourselves.

Here's another Jack picture to close on.

When I got home Beau proudly announced to me that the whole time I was gone he ate Schwan's boneless buffalo wings and tator tots. With a look of sheer horror I responded with, "That's great, Honey."

The Truth Comes Out in the A.M.

While we were getting ready in the bathroom this morning I heard a crunching noise coming from our closet and yelled, "Mamie! That better be a bone and not a shoe but if it's a shoe it better be your dad's!!"

The good news is it was a bone. The bad news is my husband thinks a little less of his "selfless" wife.