West Coast Girl

Here are some of the things that happened in the South this weekend:

Stephanie and I had this conversation about a statue outside of a restaurant:
Me: Is that a fish?
Steph: Yes, and it's dressed as Santa.

I drove through the gates of Dollywood, but didn't get to go inside because it was closed.

I heared (or heard) "Georgia On My Mind" and that Chattahoochee song about 5 times.

We were out at lunch one day and Stephanie said "This sweet tea is just like my mom's."

I drove past Babyland General in Cleveland, GA. (You know, where the Cabbage Patch Kids are born.) (No, I didn't take the tour.) (Yes, I realize that was a mistake.)

I learned most of the words to Trace Adkins new song "Hot Mama."

I learned of the existence of Trace Adkins.

We were in the car and heard an announcement on the radio for a contest to win free breakfast for a year from Waffle House. But we couldn't make it to the parking lot outside the old K-Mart in time. (Full disclosure: This happened the last time I was in Georgia, in August -- but it did happen.)

Stephanie and Mark and I watched Grumpy Old Men, which is one of the funniest and most romantic movies I've seen in a long time. "You wake up one day and you realize, you're not 81 anymore." Hi-larious. We also watched Grumpier Old Men, which was also funny but not as good as the first one.

There was lots of good food and even better conversation, plus a ride in Mark's Z.

Steph's Uncle Ray said (on Thanksgiving), "Manifest Destiny, that's something I've been thinking about."

Some kid at a rest stop in South Caroline gave me a quarter for the vending machine and said "I've got more -- everything my little sister didn't take." (Thanks, big guy.)