What A Year It's Been!!

Well... our 2008 started off pretty normal. We got our new puppy, Marlee, who has become the light of our lives (of course, she shares that light with our little one, Max). We never expected what would happen halfway through the year. Wow... the last 6 months have been quite a ride!!

Having accepted his new position here in Philly, the last time Troy was at our house in Brandon was in May. I lived there all alone until the end of June when I drove to Nashville to meet Troy, and we embarked on our journey to Philly... our 21 hour journey to Philly. I must say, I did not like being in the truck for 21 hours, and I do not look forward to the next trip that is that long or longer. For a very brief period, we were in downtown Philly, and then we moved to the outskirts (the sketchy outskirts... not really, we live in a really nice area) in Glen Mills. Troy continues to love his job at the airport, trying as it may be sometimes, and I am settling down in my new job and love it more everyday!!

We have ended the year on such a great note. We had a great Christmas together here in Philly and then went to Houston where we continued the festivities. It was a blast!! The girls are growing so much, and it was great to be with Troy's mom, brother, and sister in law. We have such a wonderful little family!

Once again, I apologize for not blogging more often. Things are kinda slow here in our neck of the woods, and my laptop lost a fight with a can of Ginger Ale... so, it's on its way to California for the HP doctors to work their magic! I wont' have any pictures to upload in the next few weeks, but you can guarantee that when it gets back, I'll make up for it!

Troy and I will be attending the Villanova Wildcats basketball game on January 10 courtesy of Todd, Kelley, and the girls! We are so excited!! I'll definitely upload pictures of that when I get my computer back, and I have access to Picasa again.

Thanks to everyone for reading our blog and participating in our little lives. We really appreciate all of your kinds words and wishes as we took this giant leap of faith to the Northeast to start a new chapter. Each of you is a part of the chapter, and we look forward to writing the next one with you.

Happy New Year!!!

What's Been Going On...

Well... obviously, I haven't been quite as on top of things as normal. With the nasty weather, it creates extra drive time, so getting home later leaves little time for play! Plus, my computer is out of commission right now due to a slight run in with a can of Ginger Ale. Oops.... thank goodness for warranties!! haha!!

Things are quite gross in Philly right now. If it's not raining, it's snowing or as the local weather reports "unknown precipitation." Hello... it's either water or some form of ice. Not that hard to determine... one's liquid and one can be semi-solid or solid.

Last week, we ventured out to the Wachovia Center to see the 76ers play the Cavaliers, and let me tell you. The NBA is just as boring in person as it is on the TV... I did get to see Labron James play. That guy is huge! I couldn't believe how quick he was for how big he was... I haven't gotten all of the pictures uploaded to Picasa yet, but I'm working on it. There are a few there now, though. I didn't get many because I left my memory card at home, and my camera doesn't hold many pics in the internal memory. I was so upset, so the ones there are some my friend, Lee, took on her camera.

We are getting ready for Christmas... the tree is all decorated (I need to upload pics of it, too!) and the stockings are hung. We'll be celebrating here in Philly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then we'll head out to MS for the weekend. I can't wait to see my family. Troy hasn't seen them since Mother's Day, so I know they are excited to see him!! We were gonna try and head up to New York sometime to see the Christmas lights at Rockefeller Center. Not sure if we will make it, but we're gonna try.

Here are a few highlights from the basketball game... enjoy, and Merry Christmas!!!

We're Still Kickin...

Kickin' snow, ice, and nasty weather out of the way! Wow... what a roller coaster that old man winter takes you on! It's been tolerable until yesterday when the wind chill was 9 degrees. Let me tell you... I only thought it was cold in Amarillo a few years back for Thanksgiving! I've NEVER felt cold like I am here in Philly.

We had our second snow on Saturday. It was just a dusting, but none-the-less, it was snow, and I wasn't happy to see it. Max and Marlee were happy... Max buried his head in it and had a beard! Too funny!! The magic was gone after the first fall! It's just not cold enough to not turn into ice and water, eventually. When it's not all icy and slushy, it may be a different story.

Nothing much to report other than the weather, which can be found anywhere including the blog!! Ha!! We are all decorate for Christmas. We hope to get to head south sometime, but of course, that will depend on the flights and scheduling. It is nice to have below average temps... it makes it feel like Christmas. Granted, it's not Norman Rockwell with snowmen and warm glowing windows in homes, but it's fun to be all bundled up.

Sorry for the pause in posts... with it being dark when I leave and dark when I get home... it's hard to get motivated to do much!

Merry Christmas! I'll post new pictures soon!!

Oh.. Oh.. Oh.. It's Magic... It's Snow!!

There are many marvels that are among us on this planet, and I must say that winter phenomenons are one of those. How can it be 32 degrees in MS and 32 degrees in PA, and it only snow in one place? Why can a winter wind take your breath away when it's your only source of oxygen and the reason for breathing? Well... I've discovered another one of those wonderful winter marvels... ice sickles!

On my way to work, I take the Schuylkill Expressway which travels below an overpass that is Kelly Drive. Under this bridge were 3... yes, count them... 3 HUGE ice sickles! They were one of the those things that caught my eye and by the time I realized it was ice sickles, I'd already passed them by. They stayed there for a few days (Wednesday and Thursday). My first thought was... "Oh, look... ice sickles!!" My next thought was, "Good grief, those things looked like primitive Eskimo weapons!" They were huge... like I mentioned before... wow... don't want to be under those when the fall!

Yesterday was the first sighting of snow! It started--for me in Bala Cynwyd--around 3:30 PM, and it was really coming down! It was a bit icy and didn't want to stick, but finally, it happened... I got to see my first northeastern snow. I would get so excited when the forecast would predict this winter wonder, but so far, I'd heard stories of snow and hadn't seen it yet.

When we woke up this morning, there was an inch of snow on the ground! The first snow storm of the winter came through our area last night! It was a sight to behold. We got dressed in our winter gear (boots, pj pants, sweatshirts with hoodies, and I was wearing a sweater hat, too), geared up the pups, grabbed the camera, and headed out. The dogs were so funny!

At first they didn't know what to think... Max tried his best to avoid the fluff, but eventually realized that he couldn't. Marlee dived in with all 4 paws. She was so excited to see the snow... of course, it was just because it was new and something she'd never experienced, so we had a great time on our morning outing at 6 AM!!

It snowed very hard until about 10 AM then it tapered off, eventually stopping completely. As we were driving home, we saw the remnants of the snow storm, and there were still icy patches of snow in our town and neighborhood.

Now, we are just watching the weather and staying warm. We definitely enjoyed the snow today. It was beautiful and magical! There are pictures on the Picasa site... Just click the link labeled Troy and Mandy's Photo Journal to the left... below are a few to get you started!

Is It Winter Yet?

Last week, our weather was quite interesting. The highs were in the upper 60s, and on Saturday, we got to 71 degrees. It was supposed to rain, but little did we know, it would pour. We went to Exton, PA to shop for a bit yesterday, and I finally broke down and gave into my frivolous side. I bought the iPhone I've been wanting for a month or so. It's the coolest gadget ever!

This morning we awoke to 18 to 30 MPH wind gusts. I thought the windows were going to shatter when I heard the wind blowing into the side of our building. We bundled up and fought the wintry weather to get some breakfast at Panera Bread and hit Target for a few weekly items. When we got home, we gave the pups a rawhide bone each. Marlee has jaws of steel, so her bones don't last very long, but little Max savors his bones. He's now been working on this bone since about 9:30 this morning!

At one point, Marlee walked over to him, took his bone, and got hers as well. It took Troy and me to get his little bone out of her mouth. Now, she is on a mission to get what is left of his bone, but unfortunately, she can't fit under the couch as well as he can!!

He is being quite the protector... he even took his bone outside to potty, and he brought in another treat. We couldn't let either of them chew on the leaf, but he was pretty funny running around with his rawhide and leaf sticking out of his mouth.

We are gonna end our weekend in the safety of our apartment out of the blustery blasts of the almost winter wind. Enjoy!!

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Paws

I got Max and Marlee Santa and Mrs. Clause hats at Target the other day. On Wednesday, we had a photo session that we alot of fun. I made the mistake of putting the bowl of bones on the floor, and Marlee tried to eat them like food. She had bones sticking out every which way. It was pretty funny. I wasn't able to get them to sit still together, but got individual shots. They didn't mind their hats as much as I would have imagined... Max looks pretty darn cute, if I must say so myself! Enjoy, and I know it's a tad early but... happy holidays from The Blacks! Just for the record... I am really looking forward to Turkey Day! I am going home to see my family. Troy will spend time here with SWA and the pups. Check back for more pics!

Happy Halloween from the Blacks!

This year, we'll be in Houston for the Halloween weekend. We have a sugar high filled weekend planned with Todd, Kelley, the girls, and Troy's parents. I'm sure that Wonder Woman (AKA - Abby) will save the day and make sure all the neighborhood kids will have tons of candy. Our pups will be here in Philly celebrating the holiday with our friend, Lee. I'm sure that they will miss dressing up, but their pet parent of the male gender refuses to let them wear costumes... oh, well... maybe next year!! Happy Halloween!!

Frosty the Snow-Mandy...

As we usually do, we checked the weather tonight to see what is to come for tomorrow and the rest of the week... and to our surprise, this is what we saw...

Last I checked, those little asterisks didn't mean rain. Now, I'm not sure if it will really snow, but it certainly feels cold enough. Let me paint the picture for you... I pulled up to the airport and a gust of wind blew and was blowing so hard that I couldn't pull the door shut. It was all I could do to hold it so it didn't blow off the side of the truck. It was rainy and 40 degrees, and TB is just sitting there. It was a great experience. I'm just thankful to still have our door... attached to the Tahoe.

It's so cold outside, and I don't see foresee a break in the frosty weather. From talking to our neighbor, this is an early chill that is upon us. "Last year," she says, "Thanksgiving was around 70 and sunny. So beautiful." I respond with, "I'm sorry... my lucky travels with me." She was glad to have someone to blame the unseasonably cool weather on!

I'm layering away... but it's still chilly. Anyway... as you can tell, the weather isn't ideal here in Philly. We'll make it, but if you don't see a post for a week, 10 days... two weeks... call the National Guard. We may be ice sickles!

Blustery is THE way of life...

Blustery is defined as a violent blowing, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. We experienced our first blustery day for fall in PA yesterday. We knew it was to rain, but we didn't realize that we would also experience our first Nor'easter.

For those of you, like me, who aren't really that familiar with the Nor'easter, let me give you my interpretation of the weather pattern. Continual face numbing winds, pounding rains, and leaves the size of a Volkswagen chasing you down the sidewalk. On the radar, the storm was moving both due east and north; therefore, I'm assuming that's where the name Nor'easter comes into play.

I kept waiting for Owl and Rabbit to come out with Piglett and Kanga close behind hunting Christopher Robbin to rescue Winnie the Pooh from the honey tree. There were leaves everywhere, and not just a few... but layers and layers. We saw one leaf tonight that the size of both of TB's size 11 feet put together... HUGE!!

Anyway... I've posted a few pictures on the Picasa site at www.picasaweb.google.com/mandyeblack. There are also some really pretty pictures of the fall leaves and trees in the Autumn in Philadelphia folder. I updated it a few days ago. Hope the weather is nice where you are... we are getting ready to brave the winter here... it's gonna be a challenge!

Welcome to Transylvania...

Some of you may recall the post from July, "Oh... The Places We Should Go." Well... I am happy to report that Thursday, we crossed off the second of the four. Now, I won't get to make it to each exhibit being that the Gregor Mendel exhibit has moved on to bigger and better places, but I... I mean, we... went to the Eastern State Penetentiary for the "Terror Behind The Walls" haunted house. We got our tickets for 9 PM, and dressed for the occassion... ski jackets, gloves, scarfs... the works!

We started by signing the waiver (yes... the haunted house was IN the prison that is considered a ruin, so they weren't gonna be held responsible if a large brick fell on your head). We snaked our way through the lines until at last... it was our turn!

It was so much fun. We went through cells with prisoners and the hospital wing. We went through the fog-filled, strobe light lite death row complete with inmates in orange jumpers with bags over their heads. Then they took you through the kitchen but prefaced that part with "now you are entering the kitchen. Inmates spent many days and nights in the prison sorting the fresh meat that walked... I mean, came in each day." There was a refrigerator portion that had mummies hanging in it. It was so funny! It was 40 minutes of sheer terror!

I definitely recommend it to anyone who may visit around this time of year and to any local who hasn't been. My friend, KC, went with us. I made her go first because she didn't seem to spook too easily. Granted, I lent my hand to her since I had Troy to hold onto (and so we wouldn't get lost from each other, too!), and I got a few good squeezes. She did get a bit scared once or twice, but otherwise, she was a good girl!

Here are a couple of pics from the night. There is one of KC and me on the Ghost Trolley, and then one of TB and me in front of the prison.

Ice, Ice Baby!

I feel like this nurse fairy with a really cheery disposition should come into my room, wake me up from a perfectly good somber, and say, "well, Mrs. Black, how do you feel after the first phase of your elective cryogenic freezing? The Doctor (AKA Mother Nature) said you did very well!"

This is the point where I would say, "Am I dreaming?"

Nurse Fairy: "No mam, it really was 31 degrees this morning. Your feet are perfect frozen, and until May of 2009, we'll continue to freeze you limb by limb from bottom to top until you're perfectly preserved for summer. Now if you'll just sign on the dotted line releasing her from any harm..."

Now... I ask you (the Southerners, of course), what good does it do for the temp to be 31 degrees in October?? I've heard of this happening, but never imagined it was true! This is what I saw when I cranked my truck this morning....

So, I text message my friend, KC, and tell her that this morning makes me want to fly south for the winter. She agrees that sounds nice but refuses to let me go because she and the other suckers who choose to live here do not have a warmer winter refuge! Don't think I won't hop on the first available flight on the jolly red bellied, blue bird (AKA Southwest Airlines) and head to MS every chance I get!!

So once again, I'm decked out in wool from head to toe. If I believed in reincarnation, I definitely would want to come back as a lamb. Cute, cuddly little animal with the warmest coat of all. Granted, probably wouldn't look forward to being shaved routinely to keep a human warm, but maybe I could be a sly little lamb and get out of it somehow!! Wow... there are downfalls to everything!

Anyway... all of you in the Sunny South, go and enjoy the weather. If I could package ours right now, I would... and I'd be so sweet and share with all of you!

And The Heat Is On...

Well... it finally happened. We broke down and turned on the heater this morning. I was in layers and layers of clothes AND under a blanket but was still cold. So, we did it... we turned on the heater to help warm up the apartment.

It was 48 degrees outside with about a 10 mph wind blowing... constantly. We took the pups out for their mid-morning outing, and Max is so funny. He likes the cooler weather, but he hasn't quite figured out the leaves yet. They will blow toward him, and he can't decide if they are attacking him or playing with him. He usually sniffs of them a little, but the big ones, he'll sit beside. Some are almost half his size... the leaves are huge.

Marlee has found the wonder of wildlife. If we knew how to train her, I think she'd be a fabulous field dog. She broke her pinch collar the other day and took off after a rabbit. We were so afraid she wasn't going to stop, but after the poor little bunny hid from her, she came back to finish the walk. I don't think I've ever seen her run that fast! I was scared but had to laugh... it was her first experience with wildlife. Now, when we go outside, we look for bunnies, squirrels, or anything else that might make Marlee flee!

I guess we're gonna finish our lazy Sunday with preparations for the week. We're looking at a low of 38 tonight and 45 tomorrow night. I've gotta find some sweaters... and gloves... and scarves!

Enjoy the mild temps of the South, my friends. If I could bottle a little cold PA air and send it to you, I would... you should all experience a fall in the Northeast!!

A Phriend in Philly!

I have some news, all! Troy, the pups, and I are so excited!! Our friend, Marcus, recently was offered and accepted the Manager of Ramp and Operations position her in Philly. Marcus and Troy were on the API team together and became good friends. Marcus would visit us occasionally in MS and quickly became one of Max and Marlee's favorite visitors (he gives really good belly rubs... so I've heard!).

We just want to say welcome to Marcus, and we are so excited that you'll be here in the City of Brotherly Love with us!

I'm sure that you'll be hearing about Marcus more as time goes on... my first plea to our friend... will you go to the Eastern State Penitentiary with us? I've heard it's really spooky at Halloween... comes highly recommended by the locals (and by locals, I mean the transplants who've been here for 2+ years!).

Picasa Photo Journal Update

We've added a few pictures of the changing seasons to the Picasa Photo Journal. Enjoy!

Every Dog Has Its Day...

As all of you know, our pampered pooches are a BIG part of our lives, and Pedigree understands the obsession that--for sanity's sake--we disguise as unconditional love we have for our pups. That's why they are deeming Saturday, October 11, 2008 as DOGS RULE DAY!


How can you celebrate DRD? Give your pup some extra love with an extra long belly scratch or ear scratch. Toss his or her favorite toy a few more times that normal. Take them on a longer walk or a car ride, if they like that. Buy them a new toy or new yummy treats! Pampering our pets itsn't hard, and ours rule on a daily basis!

We love our dogs and don't know what we'd do without them. If you don't have a pet, celebrate by adopting a furbaby of your own. You can contact your local animal shelter or use http://www.petfinder.com/ to find your new family member, but remember, dogs take a lot of time and need a lot of care. If you can't give your pooch the time he or she needs, just donate to the shelter and help them take care of a pup until he or she finds a good home!

Enjoy the day with your dog... we hope that you and your beloved pooch have the most pawsome day ever!

For more information on Dogs Rule Day, visit www.pedigree.com/dogsruleday

They Say It's Fall, But...

So, this week has been unseasonably cool here in the Northeast, and by unseasonably cool, I mean 12-14 degrees cooler at night and in the morning than normal. Yesterday, we woke up with a temp of 40 degrees, and this morning, it was 42. That's what we considered winter in MS! I mean, the temps would be lower in the early morning hours, and you would see frost in the mornings, but this is just fall here!

What am I going to do? I know... I'll invent a little body suit that works like an electric blanket that runs off of batteries! Yeah... that's it! Wait... I'm not an engineer... Todd, Kelley, Uncle Alex, Dave... Interested in a side job?!?

Anyway... All I know is that I am inside with a wool sweater on, and I'm still cold. I think that it's time to break out the North Face, but I'm not sure what I'll do when it's winter. The North Face is the warmest jacket that I have... the falling leaves predict a shopping trip in the near future!! Until then, I'm gonna be a sitting duck (or for effect since it's fall, a sitting crow), and stay warm inside!

Our leaves have been predicted to start turning really soon. There is one tree at my exit to City Ave that is solid red. It looks like a maple tree... it's beautiful. I want to take a ride into the more rural areas when they really start to turn the rusts and golds... autumn is such a nice time of year!

Welcome to the Bat Cave...

Halloween is right around the corner, but never did we imagine we'd have such a warm welcome. Tonight, I went to town to shop for a few minutes, and while I was gone, Troy and the pups were enjoying a cool breeze with the patio door when they had a visitor. Troy heard the pups wrestling around, so he went to see what all the fuss was about.

In this case, fuss = a bat! There was a bat in our house, and before he decided how to de-bat our house, he thought to himself, "well, I don't have a lot of experience with bats..." Now... I ask you... what would have been your first thought? Would it have been questioning your bat experience? Probably not!

So, Troy opens the balcony door and stands in the bedroom door way to block the bat's access (not sure why he didn't shut it), so the bat would stay contained in our den, kitchen, and foyer. During this time, Marlee is doing somersaults around the house chasing said bat. As he's protecting our bedroom, he watches the bat fly frantically throughout the house, bouncing from wall-to-wall, until it flies out the door.

I get home, and he says, "we had a little excitement. You're never gonna believe it." So, I am trying to pace myself where I can imagine the magnitude of the "excitement," but I a bat in our house never crossed my mind.

Needless to say, the screen on the balcony door is pulled shut, and we are enjoying the breeze through the gauzy barrier so the bat can't come back. I do--on occasion--ask for another pet, but I think I'll stick to the non-flying, non-rabies carrying type.

Bat, bat go away... don't come back another day!

Gainfully Employed!

Tomorrow I start my job with Staubach Retail. It's the company that was started by former Dallas Cowboy quarterback, Roger Staubach. I will be managing the office of three brokers for the southern portion of the Northeast territory. I'm really excited.

Our office is moving to a new location, but it is only across the street. This won't add any time on my drive everyday, and we will be home by 6:30 or so every night. I will also have a Target across the street to feed the habit, and there is a Pei Wei and Chipotle for lunch when I don't feel like packing my own.

I'm not sure what the details of my position may be just yet. I'm sure that I'll get to jump in with both feet and have updates later in the week. I've always thought that real estate would be fun, so I guess I'm going for it now!

I'll keep you guys posted!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Although the day time temperatures really don't feel like fall right now, we are certainly feeling the effects of the changing seasons here in the mornings and evenings in Philly. It's in the mid-seventies and very warm in the afternoons, but at night, there is definitely a chill in the air.

The pups seem to like their post on the balcony while the cooler temps set in early morning and late evening. I've rather enjoyed dressing for the fall in jeans and sweatshirts or light jackets. TB definitely likes the cool weather... that nut thinks that 55 degrees is shorts weather! I disagree... strongly, disagree (if this was a Gallup poll, I think that the majority would disagree with him)!

Next week, we are expecting our first day with a low in the lower-40s and a high of only 61!! I must say, when fall comes to town... fall is here. There really isn't any warning... just cooler weather and beautiful, barely-there autumn leaves.

I'm so excited to be a part of the Northeast for the fall... it makes me want to buy apples and pumpkins and host a carnival. I can smell the crisp air now, and see the frost on the pumpkins. I bought some mums and pansies today to celebrate the new-ness of the season. I can't wait to have blooms on the plants!

Even though fall hasn't really set in for our friends across the southern and western portion of the country, we brag now, but you're bragging time is coming (think winter!).

We're Party Animals!!

Today was TB's birthday... I think he had a great relaxing day. I had to work this afternoon, so we went to dinner on Friday to celebrate at Carraba's, and I made dinner and brownies for us tonight. It's sorta been a birthday weekend... he's gotten cards and gifts everyday since Thursday, so I think it's been fun.

Of course, the best gift was the voicemail from Abby this morning. She calls every year to wish him a happy birthday... I know he can't wait until Izzy can talk, so he'll get double the love from our cutest, sweetest nieces, but for now, we know that all the coos from Iz means happy birthday, Uncle Troy!!

As most of you know, TB and Kelley share a birthday, so we definitely want to give her a happy birthday shout out, and tell her that we love her and hope she had a great day!!

He got lots of cool things from us for his birthday. From me, he got a "coffee table" book of the 1990's era Dallas Cowboys franchise, and from the pups and me, he got a mini replica Dallas Cowboys Riddell helmet. Of course, this stuff will one day go in his office at the airport (we've gotta bring a bit of navy and silver into a town that thinks that teal is actually a good color for a uniform), but for now, we'll enjoy it here at home.

We are now just hanging out and watching a bit of TV. Troy wouldn't take a picture, but I did manage to get a picture of our partying pooches instead! Thanks to everyone who called and sent cards and well wishes for his birthday. It's been great to hear from everyone!!

Life, Love, and the Pursuit of a Perfect Fall TV Lineup...

Well... as the faithful followers know, I have been rather down about the cancellations of some of my favorite shows. I'm really upset about Men in Trees leaving the airwaves since it wasn't resolved after the writer's strike last season. And, not to mention, Cashmere Mafia... fabulous show. Now, Lucy Lu is going to be on Dirty Sexy Money, and Notes from the Underbelly's premier date is to be announced.

Although with these pieces of sad news comes 30 minute and hour long blocks of sheer entertainment, that week after week will leave us clinching our fists as we travel with the characters from episode to episode until we reach the season finales only to relish the time spent together this season.

This year, I am pleased to say report that our TV lineup schedule is full, and our DVR is ready to record each second of the land we get lost in and can't get enough of, AND ALL WITHOUT COMMERCIALS!!! I've even found a few new shows to replace the ones lost but never to be forgotten.

If you are interested in seeing the 2008-2009 Fall TV Line up, you can visit http://www.tvguide.com/special/fall-preview-2008/fall-schedule.aspx. It is a preview grid by day and listed by network.

I never considered myself much of a TV buff until the revelation of the DVR; however, now I get giddy when it's time to set the series recording settings, and fast forward through the commercials from scene to scene. It's amazing the joy a remote control and season premiers can bring!

Rain... Check... Wind... Check... Hurricane... WHAT?!?

I feel like I should be ordering from a combo menu at Weather World... I'll take a number one... yes, the almost fall equinox and 86 the hurricane force winds and rain, please. What?? Mother Nature has removed that from the menu? Well... I'll go with the daily special... yes... 45 mile per hour wind gusts and 5 inches of rain will be fine. No... I wouldn't like to super size my combo.

Hurricane Hanna... who would have thought?? I mean, I moved from a Gulf Coastal state and headed to the north where I was hoping that there wouldn't be any terrible weather (for those of you who aren't that familiar with my very interesting, "that's-what-makes-me-'me'" quirks, I have been self-diagnosed with thunderstorm anxiety... yes, like a dog... but unfortunately, they don't give people Valium for thunderstorm anxiety like they do for our furry, canine friends!).

So, last week, I was on the phone with my Moma making sure that she had her hurricane preparedness kit for Gustav ready and feeling very helpless with my family down in MS getting ready to weather the storm, when little did I know that we (the transplant-Pennsylvanians that we are) would experience tropical storm force winds and flood-bearing rain storms. I know that tornadoes can pop up anywhere... anyone remember the SEC Basketball Tournaments in Atlanta this past season??... but I mean, COME ON! Let's get real... who actually expects to have one in a city, much less tropical storm force winds in a northeastern state?? Well... there were tornado warnings in the Philly area this evening... little to my amusement. I got the text message from The Weather Channel, and I immediately sought out my tornado shelter in the interior hallway and prepared myself to take cover in the event one should pop up.

I've lived in a state that has a tornado watch/warning every time the wind blows and the clouds cover the sun, and I was sooo looking forward to getting away from that scary phenomenon that some stupid people insist on chasing to get a closer look (think Twister). I just want to say to those guys... "we aren't cats... God didn't give us nine lives... TAKE COVER!" Anyway... Helen Hunt's a much braver girl than I.

Once again... I'm rambling. I tend to do that sometimes. I guess that it's time to sign off for now... I don't want to lose readers because of my rants and raves. I'll end with this... be careful; watch the weather; and remember... grabbing your ankles with your behind in the air during a lightning storm to ward off a strike has been proven to be a myth... if you're gonna get electrocuted, do it in a classy fashion.

Happy Hounds

I had today off from work, and after being lazy for a few hours this morning, Max, Marlee, and I went outside for a little walk and run. The pups had such a good time... they ran, slobered, chased, and stared at our neighbors.

It was a nice temperature, and the sun was shining ever so brightly. It was a perfect morning for a stroll outside. Max can't have as much freedom as Marlee because our little four-legged Houdini will not come back when he's called. It takes a mean combination of Puperoni and another dog to lure him back. Not necessarily Marlee, but any dog who looks like they could be a friend.

Marlee on the other hand will come when called and sit when commanded, so she gets to drop the leash and chase her pink, deflated ball down the grassy area by our building. I do miss the fence we had at our house in Brandon because I feel bad that Max can't run, but they do enjoy their walks.

Today, I decided to take the camera for a few shots of our kids. It was fun, and we had a good time. The photo session was over when they realized the treats were in my pocket. It was all down hill from there. We finished our walk and headed upstairs to our apartment. Now we are all resting... me on the couch; Max under the couch; and Marlee in front of the couch on the floor. What a perfect afternoon!

The End of Summer Nears...

Happy Labor Day!! Things are quiet here in the Northeast... it's a beautiful day here, unlike the Gulf Coast. I am so thankful that Gustav decided to take out the southern coast of Louisiana instead of the MS Gulf Coast or the TX coast line. I know that the rain and wind isn't a peach, but it's much better than going through another Katrina or Rita again.

Anyway... Just wanted to update you... the fruits of our labor paid off. We sold our house in Brandon, MS. We closed on Friday, and it's all over. It is kinda sad to know that we don't officially live there any more since it was our first house, and we loved it sooo much; however, on the other hand, we are so lucky that it sold, and we can move on with our lives here in PA.

Fall is beginning to come out of hiding here in the Northeast. Leaves are beginning to fall, and we are having such nice weather for most of the day... we open our windows in the mornings and the evenings to cool breezes and moderate temperatures. The dogs are loving the cooler weather, and enjoy our walks and playtime outside.

We wish you all a very relaxing un-official last day of summer, and look forward to writing about our upcoming season changes soon!

Our Day Trip to NYC

Last Monday, we drove into Trenton, NJ and hopped on the NJ Transit System where we ended up in New York City's Penn Station. Mitch and Jessica Grider (Troy's first cousin and his wife) were visiting New York for their anniversary and birthdays. We met them outside at the 32nd Street entrance and decided the fate of our day.

We decided to visit the Empire State Building. It's the tallest point in NYC, and from the 86th floor, you can see for miles. It was really a cool sight. We started on the North side of the city where you can see the GE Building and the MetLife Building and Central Park. Times Square is on the Northwest side of the building. Then we went to the West side of the building where you can see Macy's and the part of the street where the Thanksgiving Day Parade stops for little shows and dances. Going on to the South side, there was tons to see there. The downtown skyline where Ground Zero is with the Statue of Liberty was phenomenal. The Flat Iron building was really neat, too. We then went around to the East side, where Long Island lights up across the river. We spent a good bit of time on the observatory deck, but the majority of our time there was snaking our way through the interior of the building to get there.

We then left the Empire State Building and walked toward Times Square to grab a bit to eat. Of course, when you are in a big city, a majority of your time is spent walking which turns into an even better sport... people watching. And let me tell ya... if you want to see a variety of weirdos, just walk the streets of NYC.

On our journey, we went through the Fashion District and by the design school where America's Next Top Model is filmed. We went by very upscale fabric shops that were calling my name, but I resisted the urge. We walked by the New York City Public Library that was getting a face lift, and by nifty shops that are always fun to window shop by.

We ended our day at the Hard Rock Cafe where we had dinner and caught up since we haven't seen each other in many years. Then made our way to Penn Station, but not without stopping in front of Madison Square Garden for a couple of snapshots of the group. It was a fun day, and it was nice to see Mitch and Jessica.

The pictures from the Empire State Building visit are really, really good... Visit our Picasa Photo Journal site to see the album. I give it FIVE stars!! Enjoy!

Phillies Phan Phor LIPHE!

Ok... so whether or not the title is grammatically correct, you get my point. Troy is a die-hard Phillies fan now. He has a Phillies Titleist ball cap, and the link to their website on his Blackberry. We watch them on TV when they are playing... it's worse than I could have thought. I didn't want to become a regional fan of any team in the area, but Troy has done it. He uses the excuse that we must do as the locals do to survive, but I really think that he's been kidnapped by the shiny stadium, crazy fans, and overall glitz and glamour of the Philadelphia Phillies.

We went to the game on August 20. It was the night that Southwest presents the "Phan of the Month" to one lucky Phillies fan. Troy was able to present the winner with a certificate and two round-trip tickets on SWA. He was on the field doing the presentation when the Phanatic came out on his four-wheeler. He came up to Troy and the lucky fan, and had a little fun. Troy got a big kiss (on the lips) from the Phanatic. He acted like he didn't like it, but he sure did talk about it quite a bit... hmmmm.

It was Chase Utley bobble head night, so we got a bobble head, and sat in the Phillies Suite for the game. It is the first suite as you enter the second level concourse from left field, and it has a really good view. I liked being up there, but I really like the seats that SWA has behind the first base dugout better. You feel like you're a part of the action when you are only 13 rows up from the field.

Anyway... we had a great time, and there are a few pictures in the post from the night. View "Our Picasa Photo Journal" for more... I'll end this one with...

GO PHILLIES!

Room With A View...

It's been a while since I last blogged, but things have been pretty hectic around here. I've been trying to get everything out of boxes, and things put away as organized as possible; however, in this tiny apartment, it's hard.

Our new home is in Glen Mills, PA. It's a suburb of Philadelphia, and we really like the area. We are about 5 miles from Delaware, the home of no state taxes, and there is a Target very close by! Our new address is 8303 Arment Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342. I plan on sending out change of address post cards, but again, it's not been top of the list!

Anyway... we are on the top floor, which is nice, and have a balcony so I can still have a container garden. It's not flower beds and a pretty yard, but it's better than nothing! I'm not complaining. We have a pool and tennis courts on the grounds, and recycling bins are provided. I really like our complex... there's lots of grass for the pups, and they thoroughly enjoy the softness of the grass vs. concrete and asphalt.

Here are a few pictures from our balcony!

Whistle While You Work...

I know... I've fallen down on the job! It's been 2 weeks since the last blog entry... well, lots has happened in the past few weeks. Troy and I relocated to our new home in Philadelphia. We're in a little town named Glen Mills. I do miss the city conveniences... public transportation, a short walk to the Wawa or Walgreens. In our new place... it's a ride in the truck, but it is a lot like our home in Mississippi with Targets everywhere and grocery stores galore. We have lots to look forward to in Glen Mills. It's an easy commute to the airport, and there are bus and train routes all around. We like it...

I still haven't made any new friends. Not that I want to replace any of the ones I left in MS, but it gets kinda lonely around these parts when I'm home and Troy's at work. I'm sure all of that will come with time, but I'm about ready to get impatient!! Hehe!

I have pictures from our new view and others to upload, but I'm so tired from the move in and all of that drama. I'll blog more about it when I can focus!

Anyway... just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about you... my faithful readers, and there is much, much more to come in the next few days...

For all of you in Mississippi... Wish you were here!! It's so nice here. The highs have been around 85 with about 60% humidity. There is usually a breeze, and we've been going green all week! No AC... we've been chillin' with the windows and balcony door open. Yippee... I can't wait to see my first fall. We'll talk later when the snow comes... I have a feeling I'll be missing the 75 degree Decembers!

TTFN!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun...

Yesterday was our first anniversary. I can't believe it's been a year! The time has gone by so fast... so much has happened, and we've laughed, lived, and loved in the short 12-months. We've added new members to our family--our puppy, Marlee, and our new niece, Izzy; we've celebrated my sister and her husband's engagement and marriage; and most of all, we've moved to another STATE!

We celebrated by visiting The Franklin Institute. It's a huge museum in Philadelphia and had a traveling National Geographic exhibit on display, Real Pirates. It was showcasing Expedition Whydah (wi-dah)--the only pirate ship to ever be discovered and to ever be discovered in American waters. It was really interesting.

The museum also had an electricity exhibit, a giant heart exhibit, an amazing machine exhibit, a Sky Bike exhibit, and lots of other stuff. We walked through a giant foam heart; made our own electricity with magnets; and played with different kinds of machines in the exhibits. Then, we went to an IMAX movie, Wild Oceans. It was TB's first IMAX experience... I never knew that sardines were so popular. According to this movie, they are basically the center of the food chain for dolphins, sharks, birds, and humans on the east banks of South Africa. It was very interesting.

We ended the night with dinner at Phillip's Seafood. It was yummy, and then we came home and played with the pups. We watched the season finale of Design Star and the season premier of Summer Showdown. It was a fun day followed by a relaxing night.

There are pictures of the day on the Black's Web Albums link. Enjoy!

In True Braves Fashion...

I know the suspense of the rest of our outing has just about killed all you. I know that you've been sitting around, refreshing the blog page and constantly checking your email (for you Blackberry users, I know that you've been reconciling beyond belief!) for Chapter 2, so without further adieu, here it is...

I'll start from the beginning. Troy and I had tickets for the final game of a 3-game series between the Atlanta Braves (our favorite team) and the Philadelphia Phillies. We were so excited about getting to see the Braves and visit Citizen's Bank Park. TB had been there once before, but it was my first visit.

When we got there, we gave ourselves about an hour before the game so we could walk around, take pictures, and scope out the concessions. I decided on a slice of cheese pizza, and about 2 bites later, that $8 went into the trash. So, I opted for a smoked turkey sandwich, and TB got a smoked roast beef sandwich. We scored on this decision... it was YUMMY, and then we had a little Philly Water Ice for dessert. Yum-o!

It was about 90 degrees; the sun burning our arms and cheeks; and we were sweating like we were the fountains of youth, so I decided that I needed a visor to shield my cheeks from the scorching rays. I found a green Phillies visor, and TB purchased it for me. I hit the ladies room, donned my new visor, and we headed to our seats.

It was 1:35 PM as the Phillies took the field, and the Braves prepared for the first offensive swing of the day, we settled into our seats with our Water Ice, bottles of water, and sunglasses in place. Two plays into the game, TB starts cheering for the Braves. Two runs into the game (reminder... I was wearing a bright green Phillies visor), we (the Braves) score, and I find myself yelling and clapping. We laughed; I surveyed the other fans reactions; and we laughed some more.


Into the second inning, it was Braves, 2; Phillies, 0; and Mother Nature, 60... that's 60 miles wind gusts. The sky got ugly; the winds were roaring; and the rain neared. Before the rush, Troy and I left our seats and secured a space on the concourse. A few minutes later, the bottom broke. It rained like the skies had been furious and ready to rumble for months.

After a two-hour rain delay, the game resumed. It is now 4:05, and we are in our seats and ready for a little baseball. The Braves score 3 and allow Philadelphia to tie with 5 runs in the bottom of the third. We watch 3 more innings, all scoreless for Atlanta, but for the Phillies, it was like batting practice. It seemed that someone hit a home run at each at-bat. By the end of the 7th, it was 12-5, Phillies favor.

The worst part of the whole game was the collision between Victorino and McCann. On a mission to make it home, Victorina comes into home plate with his shoulder lowered while McCann received a throw from Francoeur and dropped to tag out the runner thinking he would slide. McCann's equipment flies in all directions, and he lays lifeless at the plate for a few minutes. After he finally regained consciousness, Victorina patted his back and made his way to the dugout. Reports later confirm that McCann was knocked unconscious and sustained a mild concussion from the incident.

At this time, it was close to 6 PM, and unfortunately, we had to leave to come home and take care of the furbabies. We followed the game on our Blackberries as we made our way back to Center City.

The Braves lost 12-10, but came back to make the game interesting, it seemed. With a combined 19 runs scored in two games, the boys just couldn't pull out a win Saturday or Sunday against the Phillies. I guess Teixeira's fate will soon be announced.

With all the doom and gloom that covered the stadium with the rain and such, and the Braves loss, we had a great day. There are a few pictures in the post, but if you want to see a full recap of the day, visit our web albums at Picasa. The link is to the left labeled The Black's Web Albums... just click and view.

Day Highlights: Yummy BBQ... Cooling Water Ice... A great start by the Braves... A chance to be a part of America's Favorite Past-time... and the Philly Phanatic!

Rain... Rain... Go Away...

This entry will be short with more to follow later, but I must share our unfortunate luck with you.

We are at (right now, in fact...) Citizen's Bank Park and got to see 2 innings of the Braves-Phillies final game of the series (it's really exciting... The series is split and the Braves are trying to decide to trade or not to trade Mike Teixeira); however, for us and the other 25,000 fans here, a thunderstorm has postponed the game indefinitely.

We took cover under the concourse awning and are awaiting the 60 mile wind gusts, flooding rain, and possible hail to subside.

We have to be the luckiest people in the world!!

Right now, there is no sign of refuge from the rain, so we'll just wait.

I need Abigail to call Mr. Sun for us (a few of you will understand the reference!).

I'll sign off for now... Pictures and funny details to follow in Chapter 2.

Oh... The Places We Should Go!

Being in a city like Philadelphia, we have tons of things to do at our fingertips. Good shopping... good food... cool places to visit.

Top of my list is the Eastern State Penitentiary. Each season, the tour is different. I am really, really anxious to visit this place. It is the prison that Al Capone spent 8 months in during his mob career. From my readings, he had a "5-star" cell. It was decorated with oil paintings, oriental rugs, and a desk top radio.

Of course, I must visit the zoo. I have to see the animals that call the Phila Zoo home. I love the zoo... the thought of visiting the wildlife makes me giggle like a little girl. I know the concerns of people and caged animals, but I like to think of it like the animals chose to be there and are paying large amounts of peanuts to live there!

Our next option is the Gregor Mendel exhibit. For those of you who say... that name sounds familiar... think of 8th grade science and the Punnett Square. This guy is the father of genetics, and I would just L-O-V-E to see their take on his great discovery.

And, finally... The Real Pirates exhibit. This is at the Franklin Institute and commented to be artifacts from the only recovered Pirate Ship. I am sure that photography will be prohibited, but like The Betsy Ross House, if we go to the exhibit... I'll sneak a few.

Anyway... there are links to each exhibit and place and a poll to the left. Help us decide where to go... this is too big of a decision to make on our own!!!

Extra... Extra... Read All About It!!

I don't have a little boy in crop pants and a beanie to scream the news, but I wanted to let you know of our blog updates!

As some of you know... the blog got a face lift a few weeks ago. It got a new background and color scheme with a few layout changes. I really like the new appearance, and it seems to like the improvements as well.

Tonight, I have added a "Favorite Links" sidebar and a Slide show. The slide show is of my latest walking tour of Center City. It was a lot of fun. I learned my way around and found some interesting sights in the city. You can see my comments on each picture by visiting our web album link. This will take you to Picasa Web. Click the link to the left under the Favorite Links sidebar to visit.

TTFN!

If It Walks Like A Duck and Quacks Like A Duck...

It's amazing to me how popular our furbabies (new nickname for the pups, courtesy of Wendy... aka Sally Sunshine!) Every time we go on walks, they get sooo much attention. It depends on the person as to which is the most popular.

On Tuesday, TB takes them to LOVE Park and this Irish guy says about Marlee, (must be read in an Irish accent), "I used to have one of these when I was in college." Then while they were in the park on a potty walk, these Greek guys were snapping pictures of them... WITH A FILM CAMERA. The dogs weren't paying attention so they were wasting a lot of film!

Then, on Wednesday, I took them out, and we were stopped by the loading dock lady who was very interested in both of them. Then, the GreenPeace guy, who wasn't interested in them at all, got a very stern furbaby mom speech. You know the one... "I am green where I can be... recycling on the street... using green chemicals... but we are on a potty walk. They have to go... RIGHT NOW. I am proud of you for being green and support your habit, but get out of our way." When I was to be stopped again, this time by a Philly police officer.

He proceeds to ask... "mam... is that your dog?" While pointing at Max. My heart started beating fast... my breaths became short and shallow... and I said, "yes, sir." He then said, "he's the cutest dog I've ever seen! I'd like to get on for my wife." I was so relieved, I almost sobbed. Then... he started asking about our big girl (remember... we haven't made it to the park yet). He thought she was cute and a Setter.

I know that most people here in the city do not own pets, and I understand the fascination with animals. I am obsessed with all the dogs around town... just love to talk in furbaby talk to them, but I mean... come on! I have seem numerous Bush's Baked Beans commercials and remarkably... Marlee resembles Duke. I know it's a long shot that two Golden Retrievers look similar. It's amazing how many people don't have a CLUE about what kind of dog she is. Now, Max... I could understand, but not Marlee.

When we finally made it to the park, we spent quite a bit of time there. They were pooped when they finally got home. We rested on the couch together and awaited our next outing.

Anyway... we have two very, very popular pups. We love them very much, but so do the passers-by, the police, the valets, and the other tenants. I think that if they were in high school, they'd be voted cutest, most popular, and most likely to turn heads!

We're Moving On Up... To The Eastside!

The East-side of the US, that is! On Tuesday and Wednesday, Mayflower Moving Company diligently packed our belongings and brought them to Philly. Where in Philly, one may ask? We're not really sure... all we know is that they are to be warehoused for up to 60 days for us.

It was weird seeing all of our belongings being wrapped in paper, shoved in boxes, and taped up with a serial number and little blue packing sticker. And... I didn't have to do any of it. I did help the guys out with our clothes. I couldn't just sit still while they were packing up, and it made the days pass faster.

What was really strange was seeing the house completely empty. I know that when we get our apartment/loft/condo up here that it will seem like home when we get our stuff in there, but for now... it felt like our house was moving away from us!

I've pretty much detached myself from our house in Brandon. It was alot easier than I thought it would be, but I think moving here with the dogs before the movers came helped out alot. It would have been hard to see it all go and see the pups confused. I can't really believe that it isn't our house anymore, but we are so excited about being here in the city that I think that our disappointment is being transferred to excitement.

Hmmm... this was a pretty boring post... sorry for the lack of entertainment in this one. I'll do better next time... until then!

The House of Mouse... Part II

As the day progressed, it turned out to be that the little brown rodent was just an icebreaker.

First, I almost missed my flight in Chicago because of the Blackberry. The Blackberry doesn't change the time according to the "network time zone." You are where you are and your time is where you were.

Then, I made it to our house only to realize that the movers and packers were lost. It took me two-hours to navigate the semi-truck down Lakeland Drive and to Willow Grande. For some reason, people assume that I don't know what I am talking about when I give directions. They took the left at the Willows instead of continuing to Willow Grande and taking left. I've only driven to our subdivision and our house a trillion times, but yet my directions always seem to be a little off to people. Yes, it's a long way to the very back of Castlewoods, but it's there... I promise. Just keep going straight!

Then, the movers got all of our belongings packed up. They jumped in the semi and headed... well, I really don't know where they headed, and I am honestly not sure they can make it back. I am meeting them at 7 AM in the morning to get the ball rolling on the final day of the move, so we'll see.

It's about bedtime here in MS. It's been bedtime in Philly... I think I'll retire for tonight. I am sure that I can promise quite a blog for tomorrow, which will probably come on Thursday after I awake from my coma!!

The House of Mouse... Part I

Good morning, all! It's early, and I am at the airport on my way BACK to MS. Yes... So soon!!

The movers and packers (not to be confused with movers and shakers!) are coming this morning to secure our belongings and haul them to PA.

Well... After an extremely long day yesterday which followed an extremely long day on Sunday, I have another extremely long day today. A 3 AM day is always long, but combine that with dealing with a moving company for two days, the second day being that I will not be home until 1 AM on Thursday morning after my 610 PM departure from JAN on Wednesday, will make for a fragile emotional and physical state (handle with care should be stamped on my forehead at this point!).

Anyway... Things have gone pretty smooth after many long travels piled on many long travels, nothing would surprise me at this point. Its about time something happen. I get to the gate and take my seat to board my flight, and what runs out from under the one seat I choose? A mouse... Yes, ladies and gentleman. A little brown mouse is scurring around the gate in fear of screams from weak, easily frightened patrons like myself. He not only runs from under my chair but also proceeds to stay in the area until soon he was out of sight. Needless to say, I kept my feet propped on the kiddie stool until it was imperative that I put them down again... And by imperative, I mean until I had to board the plane!

Should I be worried about the outcome of the day, or was the mouse just an icebreaker? I don't know, but I'm not really excited if this is the start of a day of chaos!

To be continued...

Putt... Putt... and Away!!

On Saturday, Golfer TB managed to weasel his way out of work at 11:30 AM to play in a charity golf tournament (wouldn't you just L-O-V-E to have that job... work for a few hours... golf for a lot of hours?!?). It was for a guy who worked in PHL and died a few years back. All proceeds were donated to a trust fund for his children... it was for a good cause!

He played on a team with a their Ramp Admin, Mike. Mike was a pro-golfer before he began his career with SWA. The other PHL Team was their construction manager, Bob Henry, and the station manager, John Minor.

At the end of the tourney, there was putting contest. It was $10 per golfer, and they had to make one of three shots in the first round to advance to the second round. TB was one of two to make these shots! He and another guy putted it out to the very end... TB WON!! Only to find out that he and Mike also won the tournament with a combined score of 67.

With a borrowed set of golf clubs, and a Saturday afternoon of fun and sun, he made his way back to our borrowed apartment with our borrowed furniture with our new, non-borrowed 26" LCD HDTV and an under the cabinet Sony Radio/CD player. Who'da thought?!?

He was supposed to play in another tournament today but didn't because of other plans we had tonight. I told him when I found out about our loot that I would like an HD DVD player... he concurred. I suppose that we shouldn't be begging for more after what he won on Saturday... but one can dream, right?!?

Marlee: Then and Now...

When we first brought Marlee home, she would take little leisurely naps on TB's shoes. Regardless of the location... kitchen, den, closet... you could always guarantee that Marlee would naps on his shoes.

Well... tonight, she wedges herself between our rented end table and TB's tennis shoe, and behold... a napping puppy.

It's 7 months later, and she still loves to lay her head on his shoes...

Television Troubles...

After the long move to PA, and the anticipation of the new apartment and soon, the newer apartment, I thought I would settle in for the first fall with my fall TV lineup. Of course, I will have to stay up an hour later to catch the latest scoop on Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters, but hey... you do whatcha gotta do in order to watch the docu-dramas that make up for the less than interesting aspects of our real lives.

Well... I was checking to see what was in store on what has turned out to be my favorite network... ABC... and to my dismay! They are canceling shows like Men In Trees, Cashmere Mafia, and Big Shots! What's a girl to do?

Those were weekly staples...what's next... Brothers and Sisters? Desperate Housewives? NBC lost the vote for favorite network with the series finale (or so they say) of Las Vegas. I've got to screen an entire new line up now... what going to happen to me on Thursday nights?

I guess everyone that I know (which isn't many here in the PA-area, so those of you at home... take notes!) will have to download Google Talk or Skype and keep me company while I pine over the loss of great TV.

Sundays... Mondays... Wednesdays... and Grey's Anatomy are all looking to my favor, but where is my Men in Trees? That was the glue that held it all together! When Sex and the City was canceled on HBO, we all needed a little Michael Patrick King romantic comedy... and that's were MiT came in.

Oh, well... wish me luck as I dig at the bottom of the World Wide Web pit to find reviews and a few snippets of the fall lineup to fill the voids left by the cruel, ugly world of the network conglomerations.

Oh... and by the way... If they would have asked me, I'd say get rid of Ugly Betty!!

Is It Raining... yes, no, maybe?!?

Today we tried out our new PhillyCarShare subscription. It is a really cool, non-profit organization that allows you to "share" cars with other Philadelphians for an hourly rate. For as low as $3.90 an hour, you can rent a car to drive around town or out of town, and it includes gas and insurance. There is one in our building's parking lot, so around 2 PM, Troy and I hopped in our "rent-by-the-hour" Audi. Talk about a clown car, we were squished in that itty bitty car, but we were able to drive north of Philadelphia to a Chickie's and Pete's for lunch. They have the best fries with white cheese sauce and Philly Chicken Cheese sandwiches.

We got back in the city and got in our few bags from Target. We went and got a few things that I forgot at the store last week... while I'm on the topic, this place provided "all" we need to have a furnished apartment. I'm sure that a broiler pan (I'm assuming that was what I found in the oven... it is wasn't, it was a high scale wash board!) may be popular in the NE, but frankly, I don't know how to use one and would rather have what I bought today at Target... A MUFFIN TIN!

Back to the topic at hand... We get in our building put up our few bags of groceries, unload and loaded the dishwasher, and got the dogs decked out in their walk gear. We head for the elevators, get to the first floor, and IT WAS RAINING!! You can't necessarily hear rain on the roof when you don't have one! Therefore, our trip outside with the dogs didn't go as planned. What do you get when you cross a random down-pour and a "gotta-go-right-now" peek-a-poo? Well... it ain't a happy one! He sorta looked like an angry little man.

Needless to say, we all came back in (by we all, I mean Max and me from out in the rain and Troy and Marlee from the foyer to the hallway) and made our way back to the 15th floor to wait out the rain. Now, we are in our apartment with two sleeping pooches, waiting for the top up thunderstorm to pass. Next time there is a slight pitter-pat, we'll wait it out rather than pull the dogs into wet, rain spattered streets. I don't want this little pup mad at me anymore.

Let PHREEDOM Ring!

Happy 4th of July... a day later! We had so much fun here in Philly for the Fourth. There was a huge parade that SWA title sponsored, so we got to be the first float in the parade. There was a huge contingent of SWA employees, friends, and family; a string band; 3 enormous stars like the ones from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade; and of course, the float. The band's costumes were undescribable. I'm not sure exactly what they were trying to depict, but I think that crazy is in there somewehre!

We marched from around 19th street and snaked our way to the Art Museum (which is about 1.2 miles of parading) where there were hot dogs and water, and lots of cheering and laughter for the Fourth and SWA. John Legend performed after the parade and before the fireworks.

It started to rain, so TB and I walked the long walk home (we weren't close to a train station, so total, we walked about 4 miles yesterday afternoon), and observed the concert on the TV and saw some fireworks from the rooftop of our apartment building. Since I've been sick for about 3 weeks now, we decided this was the safest place to see the celebration.

All of the people that TB works with are so nice, and they all get along really well. I feel like we've been here forever. It's like anywhere you go, the SWA employees take you in and make you feel like you are family... regardless of name, rank, or serial number!

Hope you enjoy the visual documentary of our PHirst PHourth in PHilly (ok... so I've taken the PH a little overboard... oh, well)!!

Scavengers No More!

It finally happened... I found a grocery store!! I drove into Delaware and went to Target, Giant Foods, Target, and PetSmart. AND IT WAS ALL TAX FREE!!

I couldn't believe it! I got enough food to last for a month... just in case I can't get back to Delaware in the next few weeks! The fresh markets and Walgreen's can support my milk, bread, and cracker needs until I can get more turkey, cheese, and chicken breasts!

I must say that I haven't ever enjoyed a trip to the grocery store like I did today! But the fresh markets have great seafood, fruits, and veggies... I don't think we're gonna starve anymore!!

I think that's my cousin...

Tonight after our 6-block walk with our furry loved ones, we came home and called it a night. After a little channel surfing, TB landed on the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge.

Max and Marlee had been playing and wrestling over the Wubba (dog owners... if you do not have a Wubba, they are only $12 at the local PetSmart and are worth every cent!), Max decided to chill on the couch by me while Marlee took the floor under TB's feet.

After looking down, TB got my attention, and Marlee was fixed on the TV! She was so interested in the agility drills. I know whe was thinking... Does chasing a little fuzzy, loud-mouth pooch count as an agility drill?!?

We laughed and laughed at her until she realized, and then she stretched out and laid down. Watching all those other pups working so hard tuckered her out!

And 1,800 Miles Later...

On Sunday morning, Max, Marlee, and I left our house at 5 AM with Mom close behind to start our trip to Philly. We stopped and filled up our tank, and hopped in I-20... then on I-59... and finally to I-65 where we ended up in Nashville. There with a smile on his face was Troy ready and waiting for the next 12 hours ahead.

It was a fun ride. We stopped at the Walgreen's for some medicine for Marlee. I don't think the rubber tennis ball she ate for dinner on Saturday agreed with her belly. After a potty break, we hit Jack in the Box for lunch. Jack in the Box got the condiments right on my sandwich, but the chicken breast patty was a little spicier than I bargained for... I got the spicy chicken sandwich, which made my mouth burn to the point that a large sip of Diet Coke didn't even stop the capsaicin tingle.

We continued east to Knoxville and then turned north towards Virginia. I didn't think we would ever get out of VIRGINIA! That has to be the longest drive I've ever been on. We decided to go ahead and go to Baltimore on Sunday and drive all the way through to Philly.

Max and Marlee were so tired. They slept the entire way on a backseat that could have been confused with a 5-star doggie spa. They had a blanket on the seat and sateen covered king size pillows; however, Max preferred to lay all over Marlee. It was really cute, and we were so proud that they made the trip easily.

I know that Troy and I were at our wits end by about 5 hours outside of Philly. I missed every "Welcome to Whatever" state we were in, so I was guessing at to the time... I wasn't very observant while Troy was driving!

We laughed and had plenty of family quality time... but that doesn't mean that I am going to EVER plan to make a drive like that again. My truck seats are permanently indented from our behinds being planted in them for 19 1/2 hours.

When we finally made it into town, it was 2:30 EST, and the pups weren't really excited about their new surroundings. We are doing better now, but Marlee is still a bit spooked about the entire city life thing. Max seems like it... he likes to chase the pigeons and watch the people.

Well... that's about all I've got right now from Philly. I'll write again tomorrow as we continue the search for a grocery store. We still aren't exactly sure how people around here eat other than for the local corner fruit salad and felafel ball stands, but I'm sure that we'll figure it out soon. We'll have to, or we'll be forced to eat turkey sandwiches from the Wawa. Ok... so now I'm just rambling. Enjoy the pictures!

And... I'm off!

Re-evaluation of the current situation--TB in Philly and my living in MS--has brought a grand change of plans. On Sunday morning at approximately 4 AM, I'll be packing up my truck and the two pups and heading to Philly.


Being an 18 hour drive, it will have to be split up into two days; however, TB will meet me in Nashville, and we'll continue the long journey together... in a confined space... with only one radio... and two restless pups... did I mention it will be 10 hours of driving in a confined space--TOGETHER?!? I am not the best rider... or driver, for that matter. I even get restless on a flight that I know won't be very long because I am so excited to get where we're going.

There are a few things that I will miss about Mississippi... family and friends... a back yard for the dogs... CAB DRIVERS NOT CUTTING YOU OFF ON JFK BLVD! So, it's soap box time!

I get into town on Thursday morning around 1 AM to get up at 7:30 AM to get ready to head out for my job interview. We head downstairs; hit Starbucks for my daily dose of caffeine; and went outside to wait for the valet. I get in the little crossover we rented and headed off to King of Prussia. I get down 17th Street; take a right on JFK Blvd; a left onto 16th Street; and then onto the 'S' Street that's named after some local river... and it happened. I was cut off by an irresponsible, uncaring, southern-hospitality-less cab driver.

What am I going to do?? Those people up there (I won't use the "Y" word... I just won't!!) don't care about the other driver. What's up with that?? Give the fellow motorist a break, people! We are all in a hurry and have places to go. Just because I am not charging a ridiculous fare-by-the-every-few-seconds for chauffeuring people around the city doesn't mean my time isn't valuable. Well... this could go on forever, so with that said... I'm gonna sign off with this one final thought...

Where's the FloPo when you need them... Can I transplant a few in Philly?!?