Natchez trip, gas stations, & weirdness

I give you my Natchez haiku:

oh, Mississippi

your slow ways and bad driving

please start making sense

So, to start out our trip to Natchez, I had to pick up my pictures from Lakeside Camera.  Of course, this is me, so I couldn’t just pick them up.  They said they didn’t have a record of my order, so I had to show them my email receipt, and lo and behold, my pics were in at the Metairie location.  They said not to worry, they will deliver them to the Mandeville store that afternoon.  Ha.  I was so good, y’all.  I stayed calm thanks to medication and said that’s great and all, but I’m leaving for Mississippi in 20 minutes .  I picked up Beth and Megan, then we went to pick up the pics.  That was the start of the day.

We made a swing by McDonald’s and got drinks and two hours later had to go potty in Bude, Mississippi.  That would be pronounced like “dude.”  I know.  Ok, so walking into the gas station, we could tell we didn’t want to stick around.  We’ve all been in that gas station, right?  Here’s where it strays.  One of us opens the restroom door, which is way dirty and there are two stalls.  No doors.  Shower curtains in place of the doors.  Oh, yeah.  Mississippi heard we were coming and rolled out the red carpet, shower curtain, whatever.  So, I’m standing outside the restroom minding my own business when out of the corner of my eye I see a pantyhose rack-spinny-thingie and right at the top there were pantyhose marked 8-9x.  Yes, I know you’re picturing a size 9x woman putting on pantyhose and I’m sorry for that image, but I’m a brain ninja like that.  I know I say this all the time on the Kerry blog, but I’m not a supermodel (I just play one on tv).  I’ve been around the Lane Bryant a few times.  So, I can imagine what one would have to weigh to be a 9x.  I’m guessing 500Orca.  And for the love of spandex and nylon, Good Lord, why would you want to put yourself in danger by wearing pantyhose if you were that large a woman.  Remember, only you can prevent brush fires.  And here’s the best part.  I turned the spinny-thingie around and there they were, 9x knee highs.  WHAT?! How the freak big do your cankles and calves have to be to wear 9x knee highs?  That’s when Richard Simmons comes to visit you and you have to be cut out of your house and moved with a forklift.  And you’re going to put on your knee highs?  I think not.  Being plus sized is hard enough, don’t make the woman where 9x pantyhose.

The crop was good.  We laughed a bunch and I only got in trouble once for something I said.  It was a “did I say that outloud” moment.  That happens sometimes.  Maureen won the page contest and that was cool.  I only managed to get 5 layouts done, but I sure had a good time.  I didn’t win a doorprize and I always win stuff, but as I was unpacking today, my doorprize tickets were in my bag.  Idiot.  I never put them in the prize thing.  Oh, we ate at the Pig Out Inn three times.  They came for lunch everyday and I actually at potato salad.  I just ate the chunks of potato.  I didn’t die.  So that’s what, the second time I’m had potato salad in my life?  When Megan heard that I thought she was going to faint.  We went to Biscuits and Blues for steak one night and that place had some good eats.  I love an onion ring and crabcakes.  Yum.  The joint had live music from some guy who kept talking about folk music and played a song I remembered from O Brother, Where Art Thou.  Interesting.  The music was way too loud for dinner.  Beth, Megan, and I were yelling at each other over our biscuits. People all over Natchez were looking at all of us weird because we were wearing the same shirts.  You know if you’re in a restaurant and you see 3 or more women together wearing matching tee shirts there must be a scrapbooking event in town.   Saturday we wore the shirts I made that said “if I crop fast enough does it count as exercise?”

We drove back and saw the best thing ever — two guys in an old maroon car with the dvd players we have on the headrests of our van, but they had them on the sun visors in the front seat and they were watching a movie while driving around downtown Natchez on Main Street.  The driver was on his celly and I’m sure his passenger was all like, “get off the phone, I’m trying to watch Big Mama’s House!” I just hope I’m that cool one day.

On the way home we stopped for gas at the same place in Bude.  A guy who looked like Sammy Davis, Jr drives up on one of those Jazzy scooters and it’s all decked out with flags and fuzzy dice and stuff.  I wish I would have taken a picture because y’all would have loved that.  And the guy was in all black like Johnny Cash.   Further down the highway we saw a kid walking with a skateboard.  Middle of nowhere, Mississippi and Tony Hawk is going to skateboard somewhere on the highway.

At some point I’ll put up the layouts I did at Scrap ‘n on the River.  Until then, be good.

A little fun for the road

I’m leaving for Scrap’n on the River in a couple of hours (no, I’m not packed) and I thought I’d leave y’all with a little silly quiz thingie before I head to Natchez.  I got the questions from Heather Preckel’s blog.  Check her out if you haven’t yet — she’s a neat chick and great scrapbooker.

In your entire life, have you ever…

gone on a blind date? Yes, thanks to Jennifer C in high school.  It was just awful.

skipped school? Who hasn’t?  I didn’t go to classes at Tech when it rained.

watched someone die? No.

been to Canada? Um, yeah.

been to Mexico? No.

been to Florida? Yep.

been on a plane? bunches.  Air Canada is fun & bilingual.

been lost? yes, it’s one of the best things about going on a trip with me.

been on the opposite side of the country? No, I’ll stay in the south, thank you.

gone to Washington, DC? No.

swam in the ocean? Does the Gulf count?

had your booze taken away by the cops? Nope!

lettered in a high school sport? I wrote letters in high school.  Oh, you mean sports?  Nah.

cried yourself to sleep? Yes.

played cops and robbers? No.

played dolls? All the time.

recently colored with crayons? Of course.

sang Karaoke? Who needs karaoke when you sing wherever you are.  I don’t need a stage.

paid for a meal with coins only? Last week, I believe.

done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? yes, I’m sure.

cheated on an exam? probably.

made prank phone calls? Caller ID ruined that, didn’t it?  Those were the days.

laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? oh, yes, and isn’t that ladylike?

caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes.

danced in the rain? If you call it dancing.

written a letter to Santa Claus? yes.

been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes!

watched the sunrise with someone you care about? I’d have to ask Scott, I can’t remember.  I prefer sunsets, actually.

been arrested? No, this is me, Ms. Goody Two Shoes.

blown bubbles? Yep

gone ice-skating. Yes once and it just isn’t for me.  I love to roller skate though!

been skinny dipping outdoors? Oh no, no one needs to see that.

had a nickname? KerryB, Red, ReeRee

been to Africa? No, but someday I’d love to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  No desire to go to Africa.

eaten cookies for dinner? Cookies, cereal, icecream — sure.

been on TV? Oh, yes, I’m quite the celebrity.  I’ve been on a few times.

stolen any traffic signs? No, that would be illegal.

been in a car accident? Yes. But never while I was driving. I did back into Scott’s old car twice, though.

What is your….

mother’s name? Connie

favorite drink? iced tea

favorite alcohol? my once a year margarita.

birthplace? Shreveport, LA

favorite vacation spot? I’ll take any hotel with great sheets and fluffy towels.

favorite salad dressing? Ranch

favorite pie? Sweet potato, baby

favorite number? 42

favorite movie? toss up — Gone With the Wind, Pretty in Pink, When Harry Met Sally.

favorite holiday? Christmas

favorite food? cheese enchiladas

favorite day of the week? Saturday, I guess.

favorite brand of body wash? Clean on Me by Soap and Glory

favorite toothpaste? Colgate Total

favorite smell? Coffee

Do you have any…tattoos? No, I’m saving that for my midlife crisis in a few years.

body piercings? Ears

Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door Town & Country minivan megafun

What do you do to relax? Scrapbook, read or watch a movie, sleep

How do you see yourself in 10 years? Sweet.  Thin and dripping in diamonds from the multimillions I’ve made inventing scrapbook supplies, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for blogging, driving a car powered by garbage like Back to the Future.  Realistically, a mom of 3 teenagers in the burbs on fabulous anxiety meds!

Wanna Play?

Jump right in. Just copy these questions and have at it!


I’m bringing the laptop to Natchez to use the Cricut design studio, so who knows, I may blog a little from the crop.  Here I go to pack.

Tunes you need Tuesday & stuff

So, y’all know I’m big on Counting Crows, so of course I read Down the Rabbit Hole, Adam Duritz’s online magazine for fun and to check out bands he recommends.  A while back he wrote about The Negro Problem, a band with a politically incorrect name and great music.  Later they changed their name to Stew, their lead singer’s name and they just got better.  They have a big Beatles influence with ’60’s pop melodies and horns, strings, and funky lyrics.  You just won’t believe the song “Ahmnot Madatcha” — it’s just plain great.  Love the title.  “Come Down Now” is pretty perfect.  If you take a listen, you’ll immediately hear the difference between current music and what Stew is doing.  It’s night and day.  So, when the band changed their name to Stew, they put out an album you’ve probably never heard of called Guest Host, which was named album of the year in 2000 by Entertainment Weekly.  I defy you to listen to “C’mon Everybody” and not want to get up and dance.  It’s fab, just fun — love that song.  Stew is poppy, but socially conscience, if that makes sense.  You’ll find lyrics about race, Ken doll’s lack of anatomy, rehab, and more.  If you’d like to listen to The Negro Problem and Stew, check out my link to Down the Rabbit Hole, and you’ll be happy to know you can get their stuff on iTunes, ’cause Lord knows you won’t find them in your local record store.  Do people still call them record stores?  Music store?  I have no idea.  I’ve ordered online for so long, I wouldn’t know.  Anywhoodle, you’ll be glad you checked them out.

Oh, did you get my pick from last week yet?  Be sure to listen to Retroverb on iTunes as well — you’ll like them and if you’re in the Shreveport area this weekend you can catch them live Little Joe’s on King’s Hwy.  Bring a lighter or cell phone to wave back and forth, like you’re at a Journey concert and say hi to Will for me.  And ask him to play “Here Comes the Sun” for old times, while you’re at it.

Here I go to pick up my Town & Country fresh from getting an oil change and tires rotated.  Yea me!  Be good.

Feelings, nothing more than feelings

I’m cranky for no good reason and thought I’d share some of my favorite things in hopes it might turn my mood around.

When we lived in Ft. McMurray, Canada I went to the best salon ever — Spoiled Rotten — and the owner carried these wonderful magnets by Anne Taintor and I had to buy them.  I’m still loving the whole line and I’d love some of her stuff for a belated birthday gift or Christmas (hint, hint).  Anne uses images of women from real advertisements from the 50’s with great snarky phrases.  I love my “make your own damn dinner” on  my fridge and here are some of my other faves.

I really need to get an Anne Taintor air freshner.

So, I realized today my trip starts Thursday and I’m nowhere close to having an adequate iPod music selection and on the way to Walmart (don’t get me started) I thought, man, I don’t have any INXS: must have INXS.  Considering that band was the soundtrack to years of my life, I can’t believe I’ve lost my cds.  Wouldn’t you know Wally World had the greatest hits for 6 bucks.  It’s such a shame when you find one of your favorite bands in the cheap cd section.  I feel sorry for the band when I see that.

I’m not doing a great job of cheering myself up.  Ok, here’s my favorite new find.  It’s Vera Bradley’s new all in one wristlet.  It’s fab.  I know, I know, it looks like something just for teens or college girls, but lemme tell you — when Mandy, Lori, and I were cropping one afternoon at the store, we left to get coffee and ended up at Strawberry Patch looking at lall the new Vera Bradley (I don’t know how Mandy and I could keep away) all three of us had to get one.  It fits my credit cards, cash, license (I still have to get that renewed) and here’s the beautiful part — my phone.  How great is that when you’re just running into Target or when you’re I don’t know, maybe on a scrapbooking retreat in Mississippi this weekend.  I got the one pictured here in Pinwheel Pink.  Of course I got pink, did you really think I’d pick one in another color?   Ok, I know owls are the thing right now (totally not sure why), but do we really need them on Vera Bradley?  I say no.  Owls creep me out.  Not just because they’re birds.  They’ve got that whole head-turning-180 degrees thing going on and my aunt Joyce had her house decorated with owl stuff when I was a kid and that’s just creepy.  I like the owl in Bambi, but that’s about it.  Anyway, go get your wristlet and pick a fun color.

I think Walmart put me in a bad mood earlier.  I went for school supplies, t-shirts for the trip, & coffee.  Wouldn’t you know on the coffee aisle there was a family of I don’t know, 10 with two carts and at least that high an IQ.  They were trying to decide between all the roasts Community offers and I just wanted to get to the gourmet stuff that was on the other side of this clan.  I’m telling you, when I saw them, I said a Whitney “oh hell to the no” under my breath and tried to get through, but they weren’t having it.  And a lesson to any girls reading this blog — if you have a muffin top, maybe a cropped top isn’t the best choice for you.  Call me crazy, but that’s not a good look.  Now, I’ve been the cute chubby girl my whole life, so I’m not picking on anyone, but for the flava of love, please buy shirts that cover up the muffin tops! I mean, you’re in Walmart, they sell shirts, go get one that covers your belly button and really, your mama shouldn’t have let you out of the house wearing that, but I think she was wearing the Just My Size version of the same dang shirt.  What is this world coming to?

While I’m on the topic of tops, I’ve been looking at this top for a few days and I don’t know if I’d look absolutely stupid in it or not.  Probably the former.  Maybe it’s the Lisa Loeb I’ve been listening to, or the girls are wearing me down with all the Hello Kitty stuff, but I think this tee is supercute.  Should I get it or no?  I think I’d be the coolest mom in the PTA with this shirt.  Later, gators.

This bird has flown

I forgot to tell y’all with all the birthday hurrah last week that our baby birds have flown the coop, or mailbox I guess I should say.  We were a little sad to see they had abandoned their nest, although now I don’t have to worry about them, since the mail carrier has hit two mailboxes on our street.  Have a good Tuesday night everybody.

Tunes you need Tuesday

So, I’m still trying to get my iPod back up to speed since I lost so much music with the crash of my old laptop.  Gotta say I love the new laptop, but I have to get my music back.  I have to upload a lot of music before next week’s scrapbook retreat in Natchez,  MS — I only have half the music that I had pre-crash and that simply won’t do for a 3 day retreat.

For Tunes you need Tuesday I thought I’d tell you what’s on my iPod and what I’m putting on it for the trip.  know a lot of people don’t use playlists and this leads to what I refer to as “iPod schizophrenia” such as my bff Megan’s.  Meg’s iPod will — no lie — go from Michael Buble to Garth Brooks (eww) to Feist to the Lowrider song to Jimmy Buffet.  My playlists make sense.  I have them separated according to artist or type of music, like I group John Mayer, Jack Johnson, & Corrine Bailey Ray together in a playlist.  If you wanna hear everything on your iPod, you just hit shuffle, easy peasy.  Here’s my iPod:

80s — good 80’s (read: mostly alternative, no hair bands).  You’ll find lots of Blondie, the Police, my theme song: Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes”, Culture Club, Wham, Elvis Costello, Crowded House, Human League, Prince, Simple Mind, and the best band ever in the world: Morris Day & the mothereffin’ Time.  Bonus points if you get this reference.  I do have a few Morris Day hits on there.  Jerome, bring my my mirror!  Lots more, too many bands to list.

Just Fun — All my Aretha Franklin, Motown,  & Dusty Springfield is on this one.

Kids — I hate kids’ music, so I’ve had to find music the kids will listen to that won’t drive me insane.  They Might be Giants has a great kids album, as well as Lisa Loeb (really good), and my kids requested “Manic Monday,” “Breakout,” and a few other 80’s tunes on this playlist.

PSP (Pet Shop Boys) — I love PSB for exercise music (don’t laugh) and listening in general.  “Being Boring” is a beautiful song inspired by Zelda Fitzerald’s writing — gotta love that.  And for street cred how’s this — Axl Rose is a big PSB fan.  For realz.

REM — just get everything they’re ever recorded, simple as that.

Amy Winehouse — love her sound.

Counting Crows — my favorite band behind the Beatles.  Adam Duritz is such an underrated lyricist.

10,000 Maniacs & Natalie Merchant –I’ve been a fan since 1987 (great year for music)

Oasis — I love Oasis’ lyrics.

Simply Red — Picture Book, a New Flame, Stars, Blue are a must.

and my newest playlist, Retroverb — my bff from high school’s band you can find on iTunes, check them out, totally worth a listen.  They’re my Tunes you need Tuesday choice this week.  Love the song “Far Away From my Mind.”  The album is Lost Letters, it’s fab, go get it.

I’m working on a playlist of a current music mix with Feist, the Killers & stuff.   If you have any good suggestions for me, let me know.