What I learned in Arkansas

Clay and I went to Arkansas this past weekend. Well, long weekend really: Sat. 10/20 - Wed. 10/24. It was pretty wonderful, if for nothing else but that we got the heck outta town for a few days. We headed up to/over to/down to (whatever you wanna call it) Hot Springs, Arkansas, which I had never been to. I learned quite a few things on this trip, but here are some highlights (and pay attention, some of them could be pretty useful if you're ever in the area!).

1) If you go to Crater of Diamonds State Park, you probably won't find any diamonds. But, apparently the way to do it is to go every day... and take lots of lawn chairs and umbrellas and radios, and bring your own buckets, boots, shovels and screens. Apparently consistency is key. Because half of the people there, I'm pretty sure live in that county and hunt for these diamonds as a source of income.

2) Murfreesboro is about 25-30 miles away from Nashville... this holds true for Mufreesboro & Nashville, Tennessee as well as Murfreesboro & Nashville, Arkansas. I enjoy that fact, just because it's kind've odd.

3) We've always heard that the closer you get to Bentonville, Arkansas, the better the Wal-Marts are. This obviously makes some sense, but until this past weekend, I had NO idea how true it was. They had men's suits, entire clothing lines for golf wear (that was pretty nice), and (probably the most important thing) an AMAZING beer selection. You don't usually think of Wal-Mart and beer together, but they had it going on. Usually, the only thing you'll get at Wally World is your standard Bud, Bud Light, Miller, Coors, Natty Light, and if you're lucky a variety (but never seasonal) of Sam Adams. This one, had Pumpkin Harvest (the new seasonal variety of Blue Moon), and at least 2 varieties of Fat Tire (which you can hardly find in Memphis at all). It was kind've amazing. Plus, a decent wine selection. It doesn't take much to amuse me... quite obviously. But, I wish the Covington Wal-Mart had that kind've beer selection. Sure would be nice...

4) Corn Dog 7.... there is one at the Hot Springs mall. The last time I had one of those, was probably in the late 80's at the Rivergate Mall in Goodlettsville. How I missed that fresh squeezed lemonade.

5) and last... Steve & Barry's. A store I had never heard of. Apparently, they started up North doing mostly collegiate apparel, but now they have just about everything clothing wise. I might start driving wherever I need to drive just to go to this store. The prices were unbelieveable. I bought a knee length black pea coat... for $14.95. I got 3 pairs of dress pants and Clay got 2 pair of jeans and a pair of khakis for $7.50 a piece. 3 sweaters and 3 button down shirts all for about $7 a piece. And a pretty awesome black hooded sweatshirt with stictched gold vanderbilt across it for $8. It was heaven on earth for the girl who hates spending money on clothes. There's one in Jonesboro, Arkansas (closest one to Memphis) and one in Nashville (Hickory Hollow Mall I think) and Knoxville. They are all over, just not in this are too much yet. Either way, I was excited and will probably make the drive to one of them next season just to shop.

And that's it I suppose. I mean, we learned all about the bath houses and stuff at the National Park too, rode a Duck, played some putt-putt at Pirate's Cove, took traditional baths and had massages as the Buckstaff and took lots of pictures too, but who wants to know about that when we can talk Wal-Mart beer and cheap (but nicely made!) clothing?

Christmas Music

"Christmas music? But it's only mid-October!" Yeah, I know. But, I have an unusual love of Christmas music. I have no shame that I often listen to the stuff all year round. I just can't help myself!

The best part about it... it's always uplifting. I mean, can you seriously tell me that you can listing to a Christmas CD and not be in a better mood? It's my first line of defense for a bad day at work or somewhere else. I just pop in an Amy Grant Christmas CD, Manhiem Steamroller or the soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and BAM! instant happiness. It's a wonderful little trick actually. Though, I have to remember to keep my windows rolled up... because, as much as I love it, it is a little odd to see some girl jammin' out to stuff about sleigh bells and snowflakes and roasting fires when it's, oh, say 105 degrees outside. But the outside temp. never stops me... that's why we have A/C in our cars. So that I can make it frosty inside, and forget all of my worries in a winter wonderland (ok, sorry... that was really bad... I apologize for that one).

So here are my favorites, when it comes to Christmas music. You should probably keep them on hand for when the mood strikes (although, they are probably all available in the holiday section of your local Wal-Mart, which obvioiusly has ALL christmas decorations displayed prominently since it's after Labor Day).

- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (soundtrack)
- Christmastime is Here, Linus and Lucy and Hark, The Herald Angels Sing... seriously, what is Christmas (or Christmas music!) without these???

- Amy Grant Christmas CD's
- Um, ALL OF THEM. I'm a little obsessive, but to my defense, I have been since I was about 4. I love them all... from the original with "Tennessee Christmas", "Sleigh Ride" and "Emmanuel" to 'Home for Christmas' with "Breath of Heaven - Mary's Song", "The Christmas Song", and "Grown Up Christmas List", to 'A Christmas to Remember' with "A Christmas to Remember" and one of my favorites on Chris Rice's CD "Welcome to our World". LOVE IT... every bit of it!

-Manheim Steamroller
- Just buy them all... it's glorious

and who can leave out the Mariah Carey Christmas album.... oh the days of Lambuth (we weren't "Christmas-10" apartment for nothing).

So that's my story on Christmas music. Get excited for it... it's coming! But, don't forget all of the wonderful holidays between now and then. I mean, if it has a Charlie Brown special for the holiday, it should NEVER be forgotten! (and on that note, if anyone needs to borrow "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", "Happy Thanksgiving Charlie Brown", "A Charlie Brown Christmas" or "It's the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown"... just hit me up. You know I have them.)

Numero Uno

Well, I have a livejournal. I used to have a Xanga. Before that, I'm pretty sure I had some other kind of online journal. But, I feel kind've left out without being in the blogger world. Both of my brothers have them, a number of friends have them... so here I am. Not that I have anything of any real importance to say, generally speaking, but here I am nonetheless. My hope is to make this have a bit more substance than the previously mentioned sites. But, we'll see how that goes...

I guess I'll start with the blog title, as I feel that is almost a requirement. "Never Alone"... in my context, taken from a BarlowGirl song. It's something that I struggle with sometimes. It's sometimes really hard to remember that we are never alone. In the literal sense, it's not very often that we are physically alone. There is usually someone else around (whether we know them, like them, or want them to be there). But more so, God never leaves us alone. Even when things really suck, and we might feel like He's gone... He's not. We might forget it, but He's not. He's always there and we are never alone.

Also, in the a little bit less religious sense, I have to remind myself that I'm never alone because of my friends and family. Sometimes I might feel left out or left behind, but it doesn't mean that I'm on my own. I feel so selfish sometimes feeling like I'm alone, because I have so much: a wonderful, loving husband, a beautiful family full of many parents, brothers & sisters, grandparents, aunts & uncles & cousins, countless friends and two sweet little (ok not so little) puppies who are PUMPED everytime I come out the door! I'm blessed, and I've gotta do a better job remembering that.

I suppose that's enough for now. Work probably wouldn't be thrilled that this is how I've chosen to spend my Wednesday morning at work. Oh well! =)