It's All About the Food

Taryn and Tim are leaving us today to go back to Missouri. Taryn will be at the Hit The Ground Running working as a counselor and Tim will return to his summer job as a lifeguard at a big community pool. They ate their way through our house as you can see:

No, actually we played an old childhood favorite we creatively call The Grocery Game. Everyone picked 2 numbers and got to shop in those rows only for something for dinner. I would have restricted it to one row, but I didn't get to scout the store and eliminate the toilet paper aisle first, so we needed a fall-back aisle. It was fun and we had a very creative meal, and everyone did pretty good!

Here we are with some appetizers. Salt & Pepper Chips with 2 dips: French Onion and a Artichoke - courtesy of Mariah.

Bagel Bites and Clam Chowder

Somehow the photographer didn't get any other photos of the special event, but the rest of the meal had cheesy jambalaya and hot sausage (sorry Grammy - kids choice!), and Reese's and frozen Twix ice cream treats. Gib did not get any candied yams, beets or garbanzo beans; but that was only after I told him he had to eat them. That was when he decided to about-face and concetrate on the packaged pastas instead of gross canned goods.

The night before was another food fest: PF Changs for Taryn's birthday dinner. That was alot of fun. Indie has a friend who is a server there so we got in his section and of course received excellent service! Everyone loved their dishes and Taryn made a great restaurant choice! Can't go wrong with PF Changs!!

I'm gonna miss her! See ya in August Taryn!

Eagle Project: Pit Spot

This morning, Gib met with people from the Fifty Forward to discuss the potential location of the future horseshoe pit he will be proposing to build as his Eagle project.

I went along as Project Photographer and Blogger. I hope I get to keep that job.

Here is the general area. There are other ongoing Eagle projects for the Senior Center. This one is the Firepit.

We thought perhaps this area to the side of the pathway, but alas, two problems:

1) too close to the creek

2) on city property

Scouting for another site (that firepit is just to the right)

Checking the property boundaries and considering possibilities

"What about in THERE?"


"Hmmmm.... it could work. Plenty of shade. Looks like it might be flat. Will know more when all the honeysuckle is gone"

The Before Shot: The Perfect Horseshoe Pit Spot.

The Good News: Our meeting was just before a church group arrived for a 4 day work project and hopefully they will start in on clearing out the land!

The area in there is about 100' x 25 ' - may be enough room for 2 horseshoe pits, and a bench at the end for players. That'll be some project!

Mercer Service Scholars, 2011: Poland, Armenia, Georgia...

From the Africa II post:

And, just as a teaser for a future blog post. Indy, will again, be traveling in late July through mid August for a Mercer sponsored service learning opportunity in Armenia. Details to come...

Well, now it is time to give you the details.

PLS 385: Post-Communist Life in the Caucuses
Dr. Chris Grant,
Department of Political Science

What was once the Soviet Union has disappeared and with it, the regime stability that dominated the Eastern half of the European continent and much of Asia. We have discovered that communism had more faults than we had ever known and when it crumbled, social, physical, and financial infrastructures were in shambles. All said, over the last 20 years this has been a part of the world that has been utterly reshaped in all aspects of life.
Our exploration of the region’s history, politics, culture, and future will include:
- The role of personality and power in society
- Discussion of recent political and cultural outcomes in the post-Soviet Republics
- Discussions of economic and political viability of fragile regimes
- Georgia and Armenia specific issues

PLS 400: Practicum in Service-Learning
Dr. Mary Ann Drake,
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Service to others is a critical part of moral reasoning and identity. Ironically, so are cruelty and the infliction of suffering. As we explore Armenia and Georgia and explore our role as servant leaders, we will reflect on the meaning of our service and the human condition in the world. We will seek to better understand the conditions and lives of those that we serve so as to level the relationship and gain as much from their experiences as they do from ours.
Our academic and service work includes:
- Intensive physical work with the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia
- An attempt to understand the political, psychological, social, and economic factors, which underlie our ability to help and harm each other
- Recognition of the need to be respectful about cultures and backgrounds other than our own

Participation: We expect full participation from everyone. Grades are recorded after class discussions

Journal: We, and MOM, require journals. The journals are NOT “dear diary”; they are to be reflective, thoughtful, soul-searching entries describing your encounters with the culture, the issues of the two courses, and your own fears, hurdles, areas of growth, etc.

Final Project: The final project is a creative expression based on our time abroad. It can take the form of (but is not limited to) a digital story or a photo essay. In the best case, the project will have value to others beyond just the individual student and the professor. One digital story will be used on the MSS website for future student recruitment (make sure that music is not copyrighted) and one photo essay will be presented to President Underwood as statement of appreciation for the scholarships with which he supports the Mercer Service Scholars.

Pre-Departure Paper: (2-3-pages, typed double-spaced) on a topic of interest related to your presentation. You need to address an issue or problem that you discover in preparing for your presentation. Please find a key focus and develop it fully. Make sure you look at the roots of the problem and possible solutions.

Post-Return Paper: (3-5 pages, typed double-spaced) is a revision of the pre-departure paper and includes insights and perspectives gained during the experience. The insertion of personal narratives related to the topic from your experience is acceptable (and encouraged).

Final Analytical Paper: (4-6 pages, typed double-spaced) is an extension of the first two papers incorporating suggestions from your professor and colleagues. You must include 5 scholarly references in this paper.


Travel Dates: July 21 - August 14, 2011

Approximate In-country Itinerary:

July 22: Arrive Warsaw, Poland
- Auschwitz Excursion

July 24: To Yerevan, Armenia
- Fuller Center project site in Vanadazor, Armenia -- Info here

August 6: To Tbilisi, Georgia
- Working with the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia -- Info here

August 14: Depart for USA


Classroom Studies:

July 18 - July 20, 2011
Mercer University, Macon Campus


Who are Mercer Service Scholars?

Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration, motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by conviction, ignited by purpose.

Myles Munroe

The Mercer Service Scholars is a highly-selective program for exceptional undergraduate students with a passion for service and a talent for leadership. The program selects 12 to 18 highly motivated incoming freshmen. MSS is a four-year program that focuses these selected students on making a difference on campus, in the Macon community, and in the world.

MSS is a dynamic program that engages diverse students in substantive service in both the local community and internationally. Mercer Service Scholars are leaders on our campus and are developed to become leaders in their careers and life-long contributors to their communities.

While at Mercer, Service Scholars take selected classes together, form bonds with one another, and learn how to become change agents in the world. In addition to participating in unique service-learning and leadership course work, Service Scholars are singled out for special attention and programs with leadership professionals and community leaders. The University also provides the fundsto send Service Scholars who have met eligibility requirements on a Mercer on Mission service-learning program abroad, tuition free.

Pool & Planning

The bullet points:

• I've been planning our July for the past two days.
• Taryn went to the pool first.
• Mariah eventually joined her.
• Indy watched like 10 episodes of Big Bang Theory and I listened to it from the office and smiled everytime she laughed. It's great to have her home! She is getting re-adjusted to our time zone and being able to eat food she isn't allergic to. What a relief!
• The girls came home from the pool for lunch.
• I made myself 3 lunches - one for Indy, one for Taryn & Mariah who arrived home after I offered Indy my first lunch. The last one I ate before Gib smelled food.
• All the kids went back to the pool together.
• I picked Chino up from his day at the vets. He had to have a little "procedure" and isn't too happy with me now. The vet recommends I find a new canned meat and feed him twice a day meat and only a small amount of dry food to see if it helps Chino's "issues". Enough said.

The July details: Smak dab in the middle of Felicie's American Adventure will be a 5 day vacation. I'm pretty excited about it! We're spending a day in Chattanooga followed by 4 days in Gatlinburg. We'll do Dollywood and Splash Country, see the Smokey Mountains and maybe take in a dinner show. There's ton to do in Pigeon Forge, plus about 3 outlets for shopping. I spent HOURS, well basically 2 days researching hotels, prices, and reviews to plan the trip. I hope it was worth it! The rest of the time with Felicie will be spent at home doing low-key American type stuff like:

• The Pool (of course) on every day that isn't filled with something else
• The Mall (double of course - I understand the french foreign exchange students plan on shopping alot)
• Whatever free art shows or exhibits I can find in town
• The Free Concert in the Parks
• Drive-In Movie Night (sweet!! Rednecks in their jammies and soccer chairs sitting outside their pick-ups - that should leave an impression)
• Bowling
• If my friend comes thru: Ms. Carla's Southern Manners Day and a behind the scene tour of the Grand Ol OpryA different mall (unless we strike major gold at the Outlets in Pigeon Forge)
• Free Telescope Observation night (it's on one of the Thursdays - I need to check that out)
• A Downtown Franklin on Foot Tour
• Wildhorse Saloon line dancing (and Mariah will say the $10 store)
• A craft day - maybe go to a pottery place
• Good Shepherd is planning a trip to Alabama to help reconstruction efforts and clean up from the tornados. If we can all go on that I'd like to show Felicie how Americans pitch in and help one another, even if all we can do (due to their age and inability to work at construction) is help provide the meals for volunteers. It's just an overnight trip and our group will be totally self sufficient - obviously since they are going to an area wiped out by the tornados.
• If we can't go on that trip, I will find another service project the 3 of us girls can do together.

AND NOW...... I have to go wrap Taryn's birthday gifts, even though she knows what every single one is. If they are not done by the time she gets home from the pool, I'll be in BIG trouble!!!

She's Coming Home

Indy has landed in DC and will be taking off shortly for Atlanta. Mike will pick her up and drive back home. I expect to see them sometime late this evening. We are excited to hear about Indy's Ethiopian adventures! It feels like she has been gone a really long time. Aussie has missed her too :) We are getting his claws trimmed today; that's his welcome home gift for Indy because I know he will be too excited to have her back to remember the No Claws Just Paws rule. He sure wanted to know what I was doing at 5 a.m. in a duffel bag that smelled ALOT like his girl when I grabbed an outfit for Mike to take with him to the airport in case Indy wanted to change into fresh clothes. He was dancing on his paws when I told him his girl was coming home! Coulda been the early breakfast he was anticipating but I'm pretty sure he has been listening to the countdown.

Taryn and I had a nice afternoon together yesterday. We needed haircuts so we booked them together and went out for lunch afterwards. Next to the salon is the Shop Around The Corner in Downtown Franklin and she got a cute top off the sales rack. We had to reschedule Aussie's claw trimming appointment because we shopped but it was worth it! Plus, my visiting teacher was due to come over and I was going to be a tad late. Mariah was a gracious hostess and kept her company out on the patio until we got home. Mariah was quite the Go-To Gal yesterday, wasn't she?!

Gib met with a lady from Fifty Forward (or as I like to call them Five Alive), at the senior citizen community center Grammy goes to to discuss projects they would appreciate a Scout troop taking on when an Eagle project comes up. Gib shared their ideas with Mike and I last night and we all agreed the Horseshoe Pit sounded like a great idea! Mike especially thought it was cool because his brother Art also did the same type of Eagle Project. So now Gib will begin the process of presenting it for approval. AT LAST!!!!!!!!

Mariah is counting down the days before Felicie gets here. We have about 2 weeks to go. I have some serious planning to do regarding the 3 weeks of fun, fun, fun Mariah anticipates having with our foreign exchange student. I sure hope there are ALOT of free, free, free fun activities happening in July!

Taryn is counting down the days until Tim and his family get here. They will be in Kentucky for a family thing and will stop by for a visit. She is glad Indy finally gets to meet Tim.

Gib will be leaving for EFY and a visit with Grandpa Fred and Jan in Florida next week. That is always the highlight of summer! Mariah and I bought an early bday gift for the dude: a new golfing outfit and a couple of new t-shirts. Gotta look stylin' out there.

I don't know Indy's plans yet, but I can anticipate that when she is awake, she will have plans with friends! She won't be here for long after all and will have to squeeze in as much as she can.

Fathers Day & Stuff

We all celebrated Mike's special day of the year - Father's Day!
Hi, Mariah here. I'm being forced to make captions on the photos. My parents are so cruel. And while I'm doing the blog my dad is singing away to the Momma Mia soundtracks torturing me. As if this wasn't enough.

With that big present all those other ones seem WIMPY WIMPY WIMPY!

Doesn't look so wimpy now, now does it? From Indie he got Beatles Live Preformance Unauthorized. And... Some tricky brainteasers, real tricky. I keep getting stuck in that book. From Gib he got blackened seafood seasoning, we thought it was a good present considering where he just was (canoeing and fishing). From Taryn he got some peanut M&Ms Yum! From me he got beef jerky, mom's gonna regret telling me that dad loved beef jerky :)

So thats what the big present was! While Gib was assembling it, he found a TILT LOCK! Although, Dad unlocked it. Go figure. Dad, we better not here any squeaking from this chair. I picked it carefully, and if it squeaks I'm gonna be mad. It's too comfy!




The Kabobs- I had a special one I made JUST for me. No tomatoes. So did Gib and T.

This cool moth tried to land on my mom. It scared her because she thought it was a wasp. Way to go moth! I called it a hyperactive moth because it wouldn't stay still!

Taryn's pretty curls! They were worth missing Aussie's claw trimming. Good thing he's going tomorrow, we all have claw marks on our arms from him. He got me and Taryn's thumbs. He's been a bad boy!

and that's it! Finally done!

My First Anti-Protest

When I went to support the fallen Marine hero and his family, and to protest the wackos appearance in our town, I didn't expect it to be such a fulfilling experience. I expected it to be interesting, probably worth my time, but I didn't think it would necessarily be amazing.

We got there early. I went with two friends I have known the longest here from our old neighborhood. I haven't spent any time with either since we moved, but this event was meaningful to us and brought us together again. Gotta love facebook! Turns out we have a shared history - a Navy Brat, an Army Brat and a Marine Brat. No wonder we always got along! I hear we were on TV too, but I didn't catch it. Oh well!

The whole day was very organized. From shuttles, to free water trucks, and off duty first responders at the ready. The church itself had an open door policy and not only let any of the hundreds gathered outside use their facilities, they were so impressed by the amazing turnout, that somehow they threw together a lunch and went up and down the lines letting us know we could go inside to cool off and have a meal. Wow.

But most of all, I was very honored to be amongst so many good people willing to stand all day and hold a flag in the heat, everyone was kind, helpful, respectful, and gracious to a grieving family. Every person there was ready to stand up for what they believe. The Patriot Riders and their motorcyles & unique leather outfits were awesome. Also outstanding was that eventually, the crowd swelled to over 1,500 people and I heard we made it all the way to 8th Ave Downtown. That's some serious support!

People who drove by had their iPhones pointed at us while they drove. Some had cameras and took photos as they drove. I'm surprised we didn't see an accident. Many shouted out their thanks, some honked, one announced he was a friend from high school of the Marine and he was so glad we were there. It really was an amazing experience.

Most touching to me was when different family members walked the line personally thanking each and every person standing alongside the road of the church and on the church grounds. This took a very long time, and all of them were in black. Did I mention it was HOT?! Some came by more than once. Basically as far as you can see in the photos of the people is the line they walked. Then they went up the long drive to the church. The servicemen also did so. I saw Army, Navy and Marine.

Some of the Marines stood guard over their fallen comrades body in state, and when relieved came out to thank us for being there. We got to see a change in guard duty when we were in the church that was incredibly moving. Even his Commanding Officer was there and shook our hands. I really can't describe it. But imagine being amongst a line of a couple hundred people feeling compassion as a whole, getting choked up, many wiping away tears after hugging, shaking hands and speaking with the parents, grandparents, sister, aunt, best friend, and widow of a soldier who was killed in action during his third tour. One gal a couple people down from us who rode out to the church with us is also a war-widow. I personally spoke with people from Kentucky and Alabama who drove up just to be there. I bet they weren't the only out-of-state supporters.

When the Patriot Guard all rode in, it took them over 4 minutes from first to last. That was one of the coolest sights ever. We were told that the wackos could possibly protest opposite of our location or down the street. We were told what we could do and what would get us arrested. Haha. As long as enough people showed up to become a human shield and a mass of flags, and a roar of motorcycle engines to drown out the crazies, mission accomplished. And it worked. How it all went down still makes many people smile, I'm sure.

Now because the story got passed down a line, there may be alot of room for some error here. But the way we heard it, and this is the most consistent version: after the wackos bothered the Jewish center they went to the Islamic center. The patriot riders kept coming and going so I imagine they were dispatching to disturb the protest and get in the way as much as possible without crossing the line. While the wackos were spewing their filth as the Islamic center, apparently the tires on a vehicle or two were slit. Whenever someone repeated the story to a Southern Lady, she was heard to exclaim softly with a smile on her face "what a shame". Not a single one blessed their hearts either. The few that still headed over to the funeral never even made it onto the road from the freeway. The crowd had gotten so large that it extended way down the road from the church. The word got around what vehicle they were in and they were on the way. All of a sudden there was a huge amount of activity from the police across the street from where we were standing. They raced down to the bridge interpass about 200 yards away. Then a bunch of Patriot Riders took off to join others already there. Some say a facebook flash mob appeared but I'm not so sure about that, however, there was a large amount of flags all of a sudden so maybe. Next thing we know it's all motorcycle engines revving and flags covering the entire street. Hundreds of them. I'm told our crowd just chanted GO HOME! GO HOME! GO HOME! and after about 3 minutes the wackos got back in their vehicle and did just that, since they could not even get on the street that led to the church.

And you know what? There wasn't a big celebration. Just alot of satisfaction of a job well done, whether or not you were in the swell or still waving your flag in front of the church. The word was just passed down. Flags were still waving. People were still arriving for the funeral. And about an hour later the funeral started and the crowd started heading for the shuttles to take them back to their families. The Patriot Riders stayed on.

Good Times, Eh?

I was given a CD with over a hundred photos on it :) The Dude is too busy making up for lost time on Xbox to contribute to the photo blog, so I figure I have free rein to interpret them myself. Enjoy. Maybe Gib will tell you about the trip the way it really happened.

BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE TRIP 2011

The Scouts ~ some smelled fresher than others, all fueled up on red meat, and checking to see whose mom embarrassed who the most with a girlie colored bandana or something

Is it just me, or is the air cleaner?!

The first day was action packed - rapids, miles and miles of canoeing, walking over land carrying everything on their backs until they got to the next waterway.

A whole bunch of portages

And, as usual, the grown ups happy to grab whatever the kids left behind
(kidding!)

The canoes were heavy
alot heavier than that sack of rubber duckies

Oh Canada!

"Yo Gib! Check this out!"

"Dude, is that my sock?" (Gib is looking invisible)

A fine looking catch

Dude, if I find a dollar in my pocket can I pay you to row more?!

Workhorses for gear on the portages.

I bet nobody thought to tell them that's what it feels like to be 9 months pregnant.

(Note: Mr. K has an awesome accent)
"Yah, go ahead an' put ve bag on my orrr, see if I care"

Water! Blessed Water!

Gib: "Do you think we'll have fish for dinner again?"

"If we don't all we get is rice. Hey Fish! Get in my belly!"

Gib: "Yes! It's too big for your belly!"

Gib is doing the frying pan math, pretty sure that his buddy has to share

No worries!

OK Boys, time to play "What Will Be Your Hygeine Product of the Day?!"

Gib: "Sweet, I got toothpaste. Now I won't have to lie to my mom when she asks if I brushed my teeth"

"What IS this stuff? Shampoo? D.O.? What?!"
"I'm eating it"

Mr. K: "Yah! I got za soap!!!!!"

"A'right boys, now pay attention. This is how ya do fish in 'Bama"
Gib thinking if he shows proper appreciation will get the biggest piece.

Mr. T's got his ways of cooking. The rule: It's always HIS RULES.
Don't mess with an Italian's kitchen. Gotta say, it's good stuff.

I can almost smell that. Yum!

"Who's wishing they had this cool hat now, huh?!"

"That doesn't smell like dinner"
"HE did it!"

1. Hey Griff - This is the pot we'll be cooking your fish in tonight!

2. I don't think so boys. This baby's going back in and y'all better get your fillet knives sharpened.

3. Mr. T: Can you beat this one Griff?!

4. Dun-Dun; Dun-Dun; Dun-Dun

5. The Pike IS Down! TKO!

6. GRIFF is ON the Lake! 42" Pike. Catch of the trip.

7. The mighty will be humbled.

8. The bandana fooled the fish into thinking he was snatching bait off a sissy girl

Before the start of every day, there was mandatory Yoga On The Rocks.
Some were better at it than others. I LOVE my boy!

To Gib's Sisters: next time you think about taking on your brother,
you might want to think again:

So many smiles. So much "color"!

Nobody wants to canoe with a guy wearing Salmon

The End of the Road (Lake, River, whatever)

No more hauling this stuff!

No more carrying these babies on our backs!

We'll miss you, Oh Canada!