Potpourri
I have done a lot recently that I've been meaning to discuss, but never got around to...until now!
This past weekend our family went on our annual trip to Gatlinburg, TN. A very interesting time as usual. Getting there was not easy...there was a ton of traffic because of accidents and we left during rush hour, so after getting off the highway, and going in circles on back streets we finally got to the part of the highway that didn't have traffic. That was all a half an hour from our house, the rest of the way went well. When we finally got there we walked around downtown Gatlinburg a little and discovered they now have a Bubba Gump's! I was so excited! When Kevin and I were in Charleston, we ate there for dinner both nights we were there! Including on my birthday :)! They have FANTASTIC strawberry smoothies! (Even though it isn't on the menu, they'll still make it for you) We made a mental note to have dinner there the next night. It was cold so we didn't stay out for long, and soon we were snoozing away.
We woke up early to get some shopping in before the rain started. We ate at a pancake house, there is one at about every corner. Then, since it was still too early to go to Tangier Mall, we went by Dollywood, some how my dad ended up at the employee entrance! Haha. We finally went to the mall and shopped shopped shopped. I got so many things! I think my mom bought one thing. Haha. She bought me a pretty shimmery black and gold skirt...originally $88 for $9.99!!! How awesome is that? I also got PJ bottoms that says "Lazy Bones" which I had to get (because I'm a trombone and we're known for our laziness!) They're flannel and warm. I got a few other random things, presents for others, but I didn't find anything for Kevin! He's so picky I'm always nervous about getting him presents he doesn't know about. I actually managed to get him a surprise this year and be successful! YAY! But I gave it to him weeks ago...we can never wait until Christmas to give each other gifts.
We then got lunch at Bennett's BBQ. We always eat there every time we come down. It's alright, I'm not the biggest fan of it, but my parents like it...so I usually find something I like there. I think I just had chicken tenders this time, haha.
Then we went to a store that had a ton of bathing suits! We passed it on the way in, and my mom noticed it had bathing suits. I've been in need of one for Miami! After looking at them all and trying on a whole lot I finally found one that fit! My brother and father found their own way to entertain themselves....
On our way over to the Christmas place my mom decided she wanted to go on the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride....yes, you heard right. It was actually a bit frightening. You went into a really dark cave type thing and dinosaurs and weird looking creatures would come at you from the sides and the t-rex's head came down toward you like it was going to eat you! And at the end, just when you thought it was over the boat's front begins to lift like you're going to be tipped out the back and a huge snake comes at you from above as you're lifted closer! It was creepy, if I had been younger I would have been in hysterics!
We finally got to the Christmas Place. I love it there, it's like a mini-christmas town! They also recently built a Christmas Place Hotel!!! How cool is that? We spent a little while in there looking around! I got an ornament there for Dawn! Which I just realized I forgot to give her...oops! It's so cute! It's a first Christmas together, and it's precious moments! I love those cute little characters! I'd love to have just a precious moments tree! Haha.
At this point we were exhausted. So we went back to the hotel and I took a nap. My parents went out around town. They came back and watched a football game. Then we finally got to go to Bubba Gump! I actually ran into someone I went to high school with there! Haha. He goes to ETSU and was there with a few of his friends. So, it was nice to see him since I haven't seen him in years. He's the fuzzy headed guy in the picture below, haha:
Our waitress at Bubba Gump's was very interesting...she seemed very slow and when she came to tell us that she'd be with us in a minute, she explained everything she was going to do in that minute and she paused like she expected us to have an entire conversation with her. And when my mom told her she couldn't have any bread on her plate because she is allergic, she told her there was only Garlic Bread on there....um...yeah. So, it was interesting, haha. But it was good because I got a very lovely Strawberry Smoothie! They are so good there, they don't have it on the menu, but it's basically parts of other smoothies put together. Haha.
YUM!
We walked around Gatlinburg a bit more, but it was raining, so we didn't stay out for long and eventually went back to the hotel.
The morning we woke up and had some breakfast. Stopped at a few places...including an As Seen on TV store...those places are crazy! I don't recommend going.
The first few days of the week I wasn't feeling too well. I picked up some sort of bug, but I was feeling better by Wednesday. I started working on fun ornaments for friends and family. Since I haven't given them all out yet, I'll wait until I post pictures of them! But they are really cute! :-)
Yesterday Dawn and I exchanged gifts! I gave her her presents of ornaments (one broke!)...except that one I just remembered writing this, haha. She got me a super cute hokie t-shirt that is kind of vintagey looking and VT scrap booking stuff! I can't wait to use that! I'll need to get a scrapbook to put it all in. I had gone to Volume II to get face tattoos for Sarah since she forgot hers in her dorm and would not be back to Blacksburg before the Orange Bowl, I was mailing her a card and her ornament anyway, so I just slipped those in with it! And the mailman said it would be there BEFORE Christmas, so it better be!
Yesterday my eye also started getting red. I just thought something just irritated it, but now I find out it is pink eye. Kevin was putting clear eyes in it last night to see if that would help. It did for about an hour or so. He had to hold my eye open to get it in because seeing the bottle right over my eye freaked me out and I would close my eye...kind of like Rachel in Friends when Monica tried to get drops in her eye. Haha. He washed his hands afterward to be sure not to get pink eye from me. He had pink eye a few weeks ago. The clear eyes worked for him! I called the doctor this morning and they're calling in a prescription for me at CVS. I love it when I don't actually have to go to the doctor!
So, there is my story. Christmas is right around the corner!!!
~Taylor~