Seventh Time's the Charm?

So counting our pending move into the cute South Highlands cottage (or should I call it a bungalow? I'm debating), I've moved seven times in just over seven years. Let me be the first to say, That's ridiculous. You'd think I would have learned a thing or two about finding free boxes, packing breakables, and swapping over utilities, but no, not really. All I know is I don't enjoy it, yet keep finding myself in this same situation. So I'm really happy to move with the intention of staying put for a few years ... and then I'm packing it all up again and heading east to Georgia!

My Favorite Pup

No, not that kind of pup. (Matthew hasn't tricked me into buying him a dog yet.) I'm talking about my new favorite player on the Bulldog football team. I first read about Logan Gray last year when, as QB for the scout team, he begged to be a live player in a scrimmage before the Oklahoma State game. I guess normally the quarterbacks aren't hit in scrimmages? Anyway, he essentially volunteered to have his clock cleaned just so our defense could have a more realistic practice. Now, as a redshirt freshman and third-string QB he's also practicing as a punt returner. Coach Richt said he was desperate to play and just "wants to help us win." Just what I want in a Bulldog.

Oh, and imagine how pleased I was to see this headline on the homepage of our newspaper The Shreveport Times: Bulldogs expected to contend for national title. I know this isn't breaking news, but I was just happy to see my team covered in Tiger territory.

Homesick over Homecoming

The great thing about Matthew's vacation week being scheduled for the end of August is we will have time to move into our house. The bad thing is we won't be taking our vacation in lovely Hull, Georgia, and likely won't make it home for a while.

Both of us are a little homesick (Matthew hasn't been home since March; I was home in May), so we were happy to have some photos from home. Miss Margaret sent us these shots of the Gordon's Chapel Homecoming. We wish we could have been there--and you will too once you take a closer look at those food tables. Nothing beats a GCUMC covered dish dinner.

We miss y'all.

Wait a minute--Is that Jonathan I see at the front of the food line?

I count five plates of deviled eggs.

Decorating Ideas

I have been looking for a chocolate brown sofa for my new living room, and this one does best fit my budget.

(I'd post the actual picture instead of the link, but I don't really know all the copyright rules. And of all the people I do not want to tick off in this world, the University of Georgia ranks pretty high up there.)

Olympic Coverage, Live from Shreveport

I'm not a super-huge fan of the Olympics (despite my high-profile role in the 1996 Olympic opening ceremony as an alien-looking member of the Green Ring tribe, but I digress). I do, however, feel it's my patriotic duty to watch a little of the games, plus it helps pass the time until football season.

While I did not watch the entire opening ceremony Friday night, I did see the entrance of the Malawi athletes. The commentators were giving interesting facts about each nation and/or their athletes as they entered the track. And what do they talk about for Malawi? The fact that Madonna adopted a baby from there. That's the only thing we can dig up about the place? There are no other interesting tidbits? That just bugged me for some reason. But then I cheered up as my favorite-named country came into view: Djibouti.

One more thing: I'm not into swimming and don't know a thing about it other than Michael Phelps is the man to beat, but during last night's 4-by-100-meter relay I was shouting at the television as if Knowshon was grinding away yards in the red zone. Those trash-talking Frenchies thought they'd shame the U.S. team. Ha! We came from behind at the very end to break the previous world record by 4 seconds and leave the team from France to drown their sorrows in a cup of cafe au lait. Exciting stuff, I admit.

Seen Around Town, Part Deux

Check out this truck we saw this weekend. Our best guess is it's used for duck hunting...and trips to Wal-Mart. Anyway, it is pretty tricked out with seats in the back and attached to the front of the truck. Side note: I think the truck would also provide a good vantage point for Mardi Gras parade watching.

Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, File Gumbo

Those are just a few of the things we'll soon be cooking in the Heaton home. Okay, maybe not exactly, but we're one step closer to doing so since we purchased chef John Folse's Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine. Matthew has been wanting this book since we first moved here, but we finally decidedly to buy it when we learned that Folse, who has his on television show here, would be in town over the weekend to sign his newest book, After The Hunt. (It's all game recipes. I don't think I'll be needing it.)

On Saturday, we went to Bass Pro Shops to meet chef Folse, get his autograph, and watch a cooking demonstration on how to make duck and sausage gumbo. Then we had a tasting--yum!

If you get a chance to check out the book, it's pretty cool. Really more of a coffee table book than a cookbook, but there are a lot of recipes too. Once I master gumbo making for myself, you're all invited over.

Can you say awkward?

For those who don't yet know it, Matthew and I have been house hunting for a few months and actually put in an offer on a cute 1940s (we think) cottage last week. I've been hesitant to blog about it all because I was worried (surprise, surprise) that something might fall through. And while that still is a possibility, I just couldn't wait to share what happened this morning at our home inspection.

Unfortunately for the very nice bachelor who currently owns the home, no one called to let him know about the inspection this morning at 8 a.m. Needless to say we caught him a little off guard, but he was very gracious and despite still being in PJs let us do our thing. He said he'd be in his bedroom and to just let him know when we needed to get in there.

Over the course of two hours, we were in and out of the house. Occasionally, the owner would come out and get some breakfast or answer a question for us. After we'd done everything we could possibly do (and after being there for--let me reiterate--two hours), the inspector knocked on the bedroom door and went in. I followed. Imagine my surprise to find the owner and his overnight guest in bed. That's right. I said they were in bed. And they didn't budge an inch when we entered.

Now, I think they were both fully clothed in pajama pants and t-shirts, but honestly, once I realized there was a girl in there, I averted my eyes to the floor. The inspector took about 10 seconds to look inside the closet, but other than that, we high-tailed it out of the room.

I can't really think of any reason why I would ever need to be in the same room as two people I don't know who are in bed together. Not one scenario comes to mind, and yet that's exactly how I found myself. And, okay, so you spent the night and didn't know we were coming, but you knew we were coming in there and had TWO HOURS to get up and get dressed and for gosh sakes go home if you have any sense. Why not do that? I would have just been happy if they'd gotten out of bed and went into another room. Still not sure I could have looked them in the eye or introduced myself to the girl, but that would have helped. Am I the only one that thinks this was bizarre?

The guy was really nice and has done some great work on the house, and I'm sure the girl is perfectly pleasant, but when I finally write that article I've been thinking of titled "Things Your Momma Shoulda Taught You" there will be many references to this awkward situation.

More details about the house to come as things become more finalized. I promise!