Year in Review (2014)

                                 

Missing airplanes, the Ebola outbreak, the rise of ISIS, rioting and police shootings – all were news headliners of 2014. With all this depressing news, it makes one ponder did anything good happen in 2014? While at times, 2014 did cast a dark cloud over the planet Earth, it did have some happy moments, as well. I came to the realization recently that I had not posted a blog in quite some time, and while a lot has been going on in my life, I decided that I should do a blog to recap 2014 since I failed to document much of anything that happened. So, here we go ...

January and February

Hello, 2014 and hello, Winter?!?! Ugh, my least favorite season because I don’t like cold. And what greets us in January and February but none other than cold weather AND snow!! Growing up in North Carolina, snow is not something we are used to, so when the snow starts to fall, utter chaos breaks loose – people raid the grocery stores for milk and bread (that still baffles me!), traffic snarls AND people resort to abandoning their vehicles and walking home. The one good thing about having snow is that we get to make a Southern delicacy known as Snow Cream!  Most of my coworkers from the Northern states had no idea what in the world it was, but basically, snow cream is a version of ice cream that is made out of God’s gift of snow to us! Why waste the snow, right? So set out a bowl and collect some snow (or scoop it off a vehicle – nothing off the ground in case any critters turn the snow yellow!), add some condensed milk and eat – you can even add cocoa if you want chocolate flavored! Yummy!!! And when the sleds won’t slide on the snow (yes, I do have a Yankee Clipper even living in the South land), bring out your Dad’s old surfboard and use that to slide on – talk about a wild and fun ride! So even though it was a cold January and February, it was still rather fun to eat the snow cream and sled (though at 31, I think I learned that I can’t handle the sledding quite as well as I used to be able to!)

March

It wouldn’t be March without some March Madness, would it?  I always kick-start March Madness with a trek over to Greensboro to take in a portion of the Women’s ACC Tournament, and the 2014 tournament proved to be as exciting as it always typically is.  Sadly, I was only able to attend the Saturday games, but they nonetheless proved to be powerhouse match-ups with the typical “battle of the blues” between Duke and UNC, and a second match-up featuring NC State and ACC newcomer Notre Dame.  I was fit to be tied in who I was going to cheer for – I couldn’t go wrong, unless of course UNC won.  So, I decided NOT to wear any North Carolina team gear and go instead for the Irish!  Muffet McGraw led her undefeated Fighting Irish in to the ACC Tournament as the regular season ACC Champions and she also carried the banner of ACC Coach of the Year.  The two games we saw were complete opposites – Notre Dame dominated and obliterated the Wolfpack of NC State, whereas the "blue" game was a very heated match-up that featured an astounding come back from Duke to claim the win.  March Madness held true to its name because even the NCAA Championship game featured a battle of two undefeated teams – UConn and Notre Dame.  In the end, Notre Dame won the ACC Tournament and UConn claimed its ninth NCAA Tournament.  What a fun month of basketball!

April

   

We welcomed a warmer April and spring with glee!  And, what better way than to start off the climb of warmer temperatures and the blossoming of the spring buds, than with a trip to St. Somewhere with Jimmy Buffett?  I attended my first ever Jimmy Buffett concert in 2014 in Raleigh.  It was definitely an eventful time.  I don’t know what was more exciting – the actual concert or watching the people make literal fools out of themselves thinking they could actually swim like sharks in the grass?  He definitely puts on a great show, but the people are just so lost because of their extreme alcohol intake, it is almost pitiful.  So, it was a nice evening to spend in the tropics with ‘ole Jimmy and the Coral Reefer girls!   Then to make April even a little sweeter, why not take an actual day trip down to the beach for the day?  A ferry ride from Fort Fisher to Southport, walking the streets of downtown Southport, eating at The Trolley Stop and Paddy’s Hollow, as well as relaxing on the beach and watching a few weddings is a definite way to unwind and relax.  There’s nothing quite like the sound of ocean waves, seagulls and sand in between your toes.  Ahhh… spring has sprung and the fun had just begun!

"Somethin' 'bout a boat

Sittin' on the sea

Out there in the wind

Floatin' on the free

Take you 'round the world
Bring you back home

Gives a man hope

Somethin' 'bout a boat" 

May

May was a month of variety.  We attended the annual NC Agricultural Festival in Raleigh and took in a tractor parade.  The highlight for me was sampling a variety of North Carolina homegrown products and coming home with a three foot long bag of kettle corn popcorn – yummy!  For the Memorial Day holiday, we took a trek over the hills to Tennessee for the BBQ and Bluegrass festival in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Of course, we ventured over to Dollywood and spent a week roaming around the Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Townsend areas.  What scenic beauty awaits you in Cades Cove and I absolutely enjoyed my return visit to that area.  One big highlight was travelling to Knoxville to see Dolly Parton in concert in her home state at Thompson-Boling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!)  She put on an incredible concert, as she is by far one of the best music entertainers.  My favorite was when came on stage dressed in Tennessee Orange singing “Rocky Top” with the entire Vol Nation singing along!   Anytime you go over the hills to Tennessee, you are bound to encounter some scenic beauty and a slower pace of a whole different, yet relaxing lifestyle.

                                                    

  

June

Hot fun in the summertime and nights at the ballpark are good ways to enjoy a lovely June.  In early June, we took in a Durham Bulls baseball game for a relaxing evening of fun and fellowship at the ballpark.  Celebrated Dad’s birthday on the 13th and then Father’s Day a few days later, as well.  I don’t think any of us ever envisioned that this would be my Grandpa’s last Father’s Day with us.  It was a year of new things for Father’s Day, as Grandpa even tried out Uncle Louie’s Harley – I don’t think any of us ever thought that we would see that happen.  But those are definitely memories that we will all cherish and hold dear now that he has passed.

July

Sometimes all you need is a day trip away with your family and even to take a walk down memory lane.  July was filled with fireworks for the holiday, but also a wonderful day trip to the beach with my parents.  We took a walk down memory lane and visited many of the sites I grew up vacationing at as a child.  A big highlight was being able to see the owner of the hotel we used to stay at as a child.  I always adored staying at the Sand Castle Inn in Kure Beach, and to see Mr. Teague once again made me realize how much I miss those days of simplicity of walking up the street by myself to go get hot dogs at the local station and not having a care in the world or worried about someone snatching me.  My, how times have changed.  But what a fun day at Fort Fisher, Wilmington, Britt’s Donuts and so many other places!

August

    

2014 was the year of concerts and August was the month of concerts.  One of the best concerts I ever have been to in my life was The Script and OneRepublic.  Our seats were eleven rows from the stage and both bands came down off the stage and throughout the crowd.  It was an unbelievable experience and an amazing concert.  They are two of my favorite groups ever and that concert totally lived up to all my expectations, if not surpassed.  Amazing!   Later in the month, we attended the REO Speedwagon and Chicago concert, which was an overall decent show even though I spent most of it feeling very under the weather.  The rest of August was either spent at the baseball park or at local beach music concerts throughout the area with my family.  August was a musical month, which always pleases me!

September

In the midst of college football season, we decide to take an early fall trip back to Tennessee to check out the fall décor.  That is one of my favorite times of the year to visit the mountains as so many areas are decorated in fall décor and the mountains are beginning to show their foliage, as well.  This was a much needed vacation due to the stress brought on our family by a two week extensive hospital stay and emergency surgery for my Grandpa.  Sadly, at the age of 95, he passed away on September 12th.  That was such a hard loss for me personally, as it had been so long since I lost a grandparent.  His memory will live on in our hearts forever.

October

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and yes, it is only October!  It’s time for the NC State Fair and I love this time of year more than most other things.  I was so fortunate to receive two first place ribbons and one second place ribbon in my scrapbook entries this year.  It was a fun year with way too much food ate, many rides ridden and of course goodies that were bought.  To top of October, Sir Paul McCartney returned to North Carolina and we made haste to Greensboro to see him in concert.  He never disappoints -- always a three hour concert that leaves you feeling on cloud nine.  Long live Sir Paul!

November

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!  It was a little difficult not having Thanksgiving at my Grandpa’s, but Mom, Dad and I had a nice Thanksgiving lunch in Raleigh followed by some shopping before returning home to spend time with some of my Mom’s family.  It was a nice, simple day spent with those who care about me the most.  Oh and yes, for what it’s worth, I did have a birthday this month, as well!

December

Put up the lights, it’s time for Christmas, but most importantly, it’s time to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  We were all decorated and ready for Christmas in November, but we still take time to go ride around and look at lights.  This year, we took a trip mere days before Christmas back to Tennessee (yes, that’s three times in one year for me!), but it was absolutely breathtaking to see all the lights on display there.  Christmas brought a new tradition of enjoying a wonderful meal by Mom at home.  It was the first time in my life that I had not been to my Grandpa’s house for Christmas, but new traditions were made in 2014 and I hope new traditions and adventures will be made in 2015, as well.

Z is for ...

ZOEY

After my dog Marlowe passed away in 2002, I pondered whether I wanted to get another dog or not. I absolutely love dogs, but losing the dog I had had since I was a kid took quite a toll on me. We went for a period of time debating it, and as his cage and home sat empty, I kept thinking that I did want another dog. Fortunately for me, getting my next dog would be a little easier than I expected.

My great uncle, Ralph, had passed away in late 2003, and at his estate sale, one of my cousins had brought two small dogs to give away. Her husband had found a boy and girl dog abandoned at a hunting club, and they could not keep them so were seeking to give them away to a good home. Both pups were adorable – the male was tan with markings on his face (similar to a German Shepherd) and the girl dog was black with a white patch on her neck. I couldn’t decide which pup I wanted (I wanted both, but that was out of the question!), so I decided that I would open the crate door and whichever one sniffed my hand first, that would be the one that would come home with me, and as fate would have it, I would end up with the girl dog!

As Mom and I drove back home, we started debating names for her. This name debate would go on for a few days. She was then currently called “Blackie” but I thought that was just too plain or too obvious, so I wanted to give her a real name. Dad wanted to name her “Katie” and I was set on “Zoey” (after President Bartlett’s daughter from the TV show The West Wing). So to pacify Dad, I named my little black dog, Zoey Katherine.

It’s hard to believe that all happened now 11 years ago (or soon to be in November). Zoey Katherine (who is sometimes also called Zo or ZK or Z) has become one very spoiled dog. She has her large fenced in area that she stays in during the day full of her toys and swimming pool, but at night, she practically demands to come sleep in her crate under our carport. She has a new buddy, Maggie, the barn cat. While I let Zoey chase Maggie around the yard on occasion, we will often catch them rubbing noses through the fence and being best buds. Zoey gets a hot dog each morning when it is time to walk her back to her pen – now, if that isn’t spoiled, I don’t know what is!!

At 11 years old, I can tell Zoey is starting to wind down as she’s having trouble jumping up on things or her legs seem a little more shaky than usual. But, when you let her loose from her pen, she will still give a deer or any other bird that flies a good chase through the fields. Recently, Zoey had an incident with a possum in her cage. Now, my old dog, Marlowe, would kill just about any wild animal (snakes, rats, etc.), but Zoey has never gone after anything in her life – that is, until, ‘ole possum got in her cage. I wish many days I had been home to witness my little Zoey go on the attack. She grabbed ‘ole possum behind the neck and slung it for all its worth several times. Whether she actually killed the nasty creature is one thing, but for her to stand her ground and fight made me one proud mama! And after the crisis was over, Zoey was a nervous wreck, so to relax she took a dip in her swimming pool!

One of Zoey’s most favorite things to do is ride in the car, but not just any and every car, she will only ride in my Firebird. That has been Zoey’s car since she was little. If I pull the Firebird up in the yard, she immediately starts doing figure-eight runs around her house, barking for sheer excitement because she thinks she is going for a ride. Now, it is one funny site to see me and a medium-sized, 60 plus pound dog, riding around town in a Firebird. But, Zoey loves it! Our rides usually are just to the gas stations or around town, but on occasion, we will make a pit stop at Krispy Kreme or Wendy’s to get Zoey a treat!

I’ve loved my years that I have had with Zoey. There is truly something therapeutic about spending time with a dog. Now, granted, she won’t sit still for long and listen to me vent and talk, as I believe she is a little ADD or something! But she is still a good companion who I love riding around town with or just going on a walk through the woods with. Zoey Katherine has been a good replacement for Marlowe King. I can honestly say I’ve had two of the best dogs, but two dogs that are also of two totally different personalities. But that makes the both special and both will leave lasting imprints upon my heart!

Y is for ...

YESTERYEAR

Do you ever ponder what life was like back in the “olden” days? As I have gotten older, I have realized that there are days (it seems more and more frequently as of late), that I often wish we could go back to those days of old where life seemed to be more carefree and full of hard-workers. I often look at my 95 year old Grandpa, who still has the desire to actually go out and work yet no one will hire a 95 year old! So, he has resorted to staying home and building bird boxes, canes and stools. Isn’t it somewhat sad that a 95 year old has more of a heart of working than most people who are actually “working” in today’s age? The days of yesteryear are sadly fading fast – there is less concern and compassion for those around you, much less there is even an actual desire to want to work and be productive. Technology and new innovations are constantly erasing what sadly remains of the days of doing things by hand and actual using your mental, brain power to help do the work! However, not all inventions have necessarily been a bad invention!

I will be the first to admit that I am not sure I could survive living in such rustic and secluded areas that I have seen while out touring some of the mountain farmlands that have been preserved for us to take a trek back in to the land of old. Can you imagine living in a log cabin out in the middle of the mountains and woods with no running water nor electricity and good ‘ole Smokey the Bear comes peeking in your window? Umm…, I find that might be a bit unnerving. But in hindsight, I can imagine their life was probably a lot less stressful than ours is today. I even think back to one of my earlier blogs on the Amish people. While they are full of mystery, they are still dedicated to their heritage and many continue the trends of yesteryear of growing their own foods, living without electricity and not having vehicles. Sometimes their work ethic and heritage is something that we should highly revere.

I love visiting historic sights, whether in the mountains or at the beach or anywhere in between. It just takes you back to a place in time where you can reflect and let your senses get lost in the past and leave this crazy, hectic present day world for a little bit of time. If only, there were days we could bring the carefree past back in to the present. We have truly become a spoiled nation, who sadly takes so much and even each other for granted. When was the last time you sat on an old, hard wooden pew, in a non-air conditioned building for your church service? Likely not in many years, as we are now spoiled with padded pews, air conditioning and all sorts of technology that surrounds our every move, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a church service occasionally in an old, frame church listening to the sounds of the old-style piano play uniquely sounding chords as we lift our voices in praise? I think that would be a nice trek to take on occasion.

And can you honestly imagine cruising along the interstate on your daily commute to and from work in your styling wagon? Oh, how far we have come from a horse drawn wagon taking family to town or church or various places in their communities. Now, we are all trying to keep up with the Jones’ for who can have the newest, biggest and shiniest car. Will that really matter in the long run – whether you drive a BMW or a Prius or a Ford 150 or a Beetle Bug? NO! I just recently made the comment that with the high cost of auto insurance that I would like to ride a horse to work and tie him up outside my window and let him prune the grass. Hey! just think, travelling in a horse-drawn wagon was a lot less cheaper method of transportation than our fancy rides of today! Hmm…I think I hear a horse in my future!!

Next time you are out and about and see a festival or some sort of historical sight, take an extra few minutes to stop by and check out what is going on. You never know what you might learn. Even if you go to the NC State Fair, take a stroll through the Village of Yesteryear and check out some of the crafts that are being made. And if you decide to go out and venture in to the woods of a rustic, mountain cabin and take a hike over to a waterfall, be on the lookout for ole’ Smokey and give him a wave as you keep passing right on by.