Surprises on Dancing with the Stars

I'm continuing to keep "mum" on my political inclinations. Legare sent this to me and I couldn't resist posting it since it doesn't take a side. Amazing what people can do with Photoshop.

Peace on Earth...Remotely Controlling

What a week. Thanks for the comments on my 100th post and for trying to help make my wishes come true. Didn't get to 100 comments but that's OK...it's QUALITY, not quantity that counts, right? We might, however, be just a little closer to Peace on Earth! Good Job!

Our TV/DVR remote has been acting up for a couple of days. I stopped by the cable company repair office during lunch, walking in with the express intent of walking out with a new one.

The guy at the desk politely asked if he could help and when I told him the problem, he indicated that I should have called the repair number and someone would have called me back and arranged a time to come out to our house and bring me a new remote. Now this seemed silly to me as I was STANDING right there trying to save their repair guy time and gasoline, so I said the first thing that came to my mind..."But this is an emergency...my remote has lost its will to live."

He gave me a new remote.

100th Post....Goodness Gracious

This is my 100th post...THANK YOU for following and reading (even those of you who stalk anonymously) and especially for commenting!! Comments are like some kind of seriously addictive drug...the more you get, the more you want (or so they tell me). What started out as a fun little way to document the busy spring and summer as we graduated our children from high school and college and moved them out to college and law school has turned into QUITE the hobby.

In the Land of Belle, everybody gets three wishes on the occasion of their 100th post and everybody who reads the post should be required (Required! I SAY) to grant the blogger's three wishes. Here are mine:

Wish #1 - Comment (it would be way cool to get 100)
Wish #2 - I'm ready to update my Reader...tell me your favorite blog so I can check it out.
Wish #3 - Peace on Earth. Just do whatever you can. Every little bit helps.

Looking forward to hundreds more posts...

Belle

Favorites

Petunia tagged me for a fun one that I haven't done yet...I'm supposed to list a few of my favorite things in specific categories...Here goes...

Favorite Store: Gwynn's of Mt. Pleasant. I love love love this store. Southern Living says that it's "where the locals shop." If you find yourself in a fashion emergency, you can call the store owner directly...LOVE IT!

Favorite City: There's no contest...Charleston, South Carolina, is tops on my list. I've traveled all over and there's nowhere like HOME!

Favorite Sweet: I am a sweet-a-holic. Lately, I've taken a shine to Molten Chocolate Cake...the one with the gooey middle. YUM and DOUBLE YUM

Favorite Music: I was a music major in college so I like just about all kinds of music, save the songs of any genre written by people who fell compelled to promote violence and ill-will. My absolutely favorite music, though, is Beach Music (clarification...the Beach Boys are NOT Beach Music). If you're not from around here, you might not know what I'm talking about.

The Catalinas, The Drifters, The Embers, General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board and many others played beach music as young people danced the summer nights away in the pavilion in Myrtle Beach and other places all along the coast. Beach Music is the official popular music and Shagging is the official state dance of South Carolina (our kids take lessons). There is NO better fun in this world! Click here for the 100 Greatest Beach Music Songs. (Yes, I know that in other countries the word "shag" means something entirely different).

Favorite TV Show: At the moment...LOST!

Favorite Movie: THE BIG CHILL (they shag in the kitchen scene)

Favorite Workout: My time with Todd, the Trainer is about all I do so I guess that has to be it!

Favorite Drink: This week, Fiji Water

Favorite Coffee: Gevalia, Costa Rica Peaberry....also like Starbucks Pike Place a lot.

This was a fun one....I tag MGBHLH, Carolina Girl, and Beaufort Belle.

Memory Lane..Tap Dancing Through Life

Back in the day, a dance teacher came from a nearby small town to our even smaller town to give lessons every Wednesday afternoon at the American Legion Hut. She had bright red hair piled up on top of her head and taught it all...ballet, jazz, and tap. My best friend, Carla (on the far left) and I (next to her) were in a class with two older girls, Melanie and Evelyn. This particular recital would have been at the end of our second year of lessons. Carla's mom, our beloved Miss Peggy, leaned over to my mother during our dance and exclaimed, "LOOK, Melanie and Evelyn don't know what they're doing...they're not in step with our girls AT all!"

You've got to love Miss Peggy's faith in Carla and me...Unfortunately, my daddy had his camera at the ready and the evidence is pretty compelling that as tap dancing through life goes, Carla and I were going nowhere fast!!

Slow Down

As things would have it, this week has been a dilly...I'm slap worn out. I was looking through some books on the shelf in my office recently for inspiring words for some teachers and came across a book of quotations and ideas by the name of Think Good Thoughts, Do Good Things by Nicholaus and Lowrie.

I was intrigued by the following idea...

"Celebrate a 'Slow Down Week.”'That’s right—a 'Slow Down Week.' Do everything at a decelerated pace from what you are used to—drive slower, walk slower, eat slower, speak slower, think slower…SLOWER is the word to remember. See if you can maintain this mindset beyond one week. And always keep this thought in mind: On life’s highway, spend more time in the right-hand lane!"

I don't know if I know how to slow down...in this day and age to do things more slowly seems to imply laziness or incompetence or inefficiency. But I tell you what...I'm exhausted from trying to keep the pace. I think I can drive, walk, and eat slower...maybe even speak slower...it's the thinking slower that's the hard part.

Is anybody out there willing to take the challenge along with me? How do you feel about it? Is life moving too fast for you? Think you can slow down? How are you going to do it?

Double Triple Checked

10/23/08 EDIT---First, I've fixed my misspelled words...I was seriously under the influence of my "magic flying pills" when I did the original post. Second...a couple of folks have asked for a picture of the shoes. They're the Kitty Wedge and I couldn't find a picture of the silver metallic ones I have but here is a photo of the same shoe in black...They were a splurge for Legare's graduation (I just COULDN'T wear the same shoes to his graduation that I'd worn to Lorelai's graduation just one night prior) and are VERY comfortable.

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ORIGINAL POST

Security was randomly pulling folks aside at the gate as we loaded the plane in Baltimore. I was watching and marveling at some of the characters they were pulling aside. One girl had funny hair and an even funnier hat along with some kind of Pippi Longstocking tights. A couple of scraggly looking guys got stopped. Then...THEN...they stopped ME...BELLE...I had on my Chico's traveler pants and sleeveless top with a long white sweater and my metallic Tory Burch wedge heel peep toe shoes. Tasteful jewelry...not too much. I admit I might have looked a little bit tired...it's been a long day and the Baltimore airport did NOT have a Starbucks OR Cinnabon.

Here's what I think had to have happened....there's no other explanation. I had two carry on bags...Vera Bradley..one small duffel and one tote....and gasp GASP....horror of horrors....they were not the same pattern. That HAS to be what it was....I'm SO embarrassed!!!!

A Funny!

Had a few minutes to blog between my meeting and dinner. OH..on the bloglist question...I've moved everything over to Google Reader. It combines the ones I'm following with the others I want to subscribe to (so I don't know, really, what the difference is between Reader and Follower but OH WELL!)

Here's the FUNNY....On Facebook the other day, I saw that an acquaintance had updated his status with the following about his two year old daughter...

"Robert is thrilled to realize that when he heard Hope saying 'crap crap crap' what she really meant was 'clap clap clap'."

I've been laughing about that for about five days now!

I DO Love a Compliment!

About a month ago, Ellyn from A Little Piece of Heaven was kind enough to share this with me. I'm not sure that the folks who deal with me face-to-face everyday would always say that I'm "fun" so I'm thrilled that at least one of my friends in the blog world thinks so. I try really hard to keep things on the light side...heck, without something to tickle our funny bones we'd be in a world of hurt. THANK YOU, Ellyn for the vote of confidence.

I'll be passing the complement along to others soon!!

I have to be in a 1:00 pm meeting in Baltimore tomorrow (Monday) so I'll be leaving in the morning for the airport MUCH earlier than my sensibilities generally allow. Probably won't post again until Wednesday. Have a great week!

Do we stand by Dabo and the Tigers? YES WE DO!!!

I'm inspired by The Pink Owl and her post about Clemson's game yesterday. No, we didn't win. Yes, we made a few mistakes...but...Dabo Sweeney brought a renewed enthusiasm to the field, a clear love for his players, and did a few new things that gave me goose bumps (the good ones).

The players looked so handsome in the suits and ties as they walked into the stadium to suit up for the game. Dabo kissed Howard's Rock and led them down the hill to cheers the like of which have not been heard in Death Valley for awhile now. He's been interim head coach for all of six days and 80,000 people showed up to watch his first performance. Oh, NO stress THERE! Let's give him some time, why don't we...

The Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips, stood on the sideline with a disgusted look on his face most of the time, not appearing to serve any practical purpose unless SCOWLING is a practical purpose. He should be ashamed of himself and, as I commented to The Pink Owl, I hope Terry Don has a SOUTHERN BELLE of a wife who let him have it when he got home in regard to setting a good example...No "Life of a Southern Belle" award for him...no sireee! Hop on over to see what The Pink Owl had to say about all of this....it was brilliant!

Designing Women...Dash Goff, the Writer

One of my favorite television shows of all times is Designing Women. There are some FABULOUS lessons on being a southern belle. I like to think that I'm sort of a cross between Julia and Suzanne but more about that some other time.

In my favorite episode of the series, one of Suzanne's former husbands Dash Goff, a writer, finds himself in a bit of a slump and comes for a visit. I won't go into all the details as you might want to watch the episode sometime, but as it ends, Dash has moved along, leaving a letter and MERCIFUL days...it's a letter that any southern belle would treasure forever...

"Yesterday, in my mind's eye, I saw four women standing on a veranda in white, gauzy dresses and straw-colored hats. They were having a conversation. And it was hot. Their hankies tucked in cleavages where eternal trickles of perspiration run from the female breastbone to exotic vacation spots that southern men often dream about. They were sweet-smelling, coy, cunning, voluptuous, voracious, delicious, pernicious, vexing and sexing... these earth sister/rebel mothers... these arousers and carousers. And I was filled with a longing to join them. But like a whim of Scarlett's, they turned suddenly and went inside, shutting me out with a bolt of a latch. And I was left only to pick up an abandoned handkerchief and savor the perfumed shadows of these women... these southern women. This Suzanne. This Julia. This Mary Jo and Charlene. Thanks for the comfort, Dash Goff... the writer.”

See You on Saturday

Legare is home for a couple of days on fall break from law school so I'll be back a'bloggin on Saturday. In the meantime, I'm just curious how others approach blog reading. I'm following a number of people through the Blogspot Follower and a bunch of other people through Bloglines...trying to decide which "reader/feeder" I like best. All total I'm probably checking in with over 60 folks.

How many do you follow...how do you manage...which "reader/feeder" is your favorite?

All Sorts of Things

I need to thank Gracie Beth at Preppy Southern Princess for this wonderful award. I try really hard to exhibit the characteristics of the award...as in all things, I suppose I am successful some of the time and come up short some of the time. I'll be passing the award along soon...

Characteristics for the Smile Award are:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude.

2. Must love one another.

3. Must make mistakes.

4. Must learn from others.

5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.

6. Must love life.

7. Must love kids.

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I got tagged awhile ago by The Beaufort Lookout and Becs Bohemia, to write seven weird or random things about myself. I did a similar post not long ago but since I am REALLY REALLY weird I bet I can come up with seven more....

1. I became a church organist at the age of 14.

2. I thought once that I wanted to be a caterer until I did two "jobs" for friends and realized what hard work it is...DANG...I was exhausted.

3. My uncle (my daddy's brother) was an undertaker who lived in an apartment over the funeral home. We'd go by to visit him a couple of evenings a week and if he was "working" we'd visit in the funeral home itself. It was all very "six feet under" and dead bodies don't really bother me much as long as they aren't the bodies of people I knew. (yes, I find it disturbing also...)

4. Because I was a church musician for nearly 25 years, having started so young, I've been Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian...in that order.

5. I'm not a church musician anymore.

6. I would love to own a little southern belle shop stocked with all kinds of southern, preppy and lowcountry things...clothing, shoes, gifts, books, and all manner of doodads....

7. I'm addicted to my Blackberry....SERIOUSLY addicted

I'm tagging ANY AND ALL FOLLOWERS...if you haven't done this one yet...TAG...you're it!

Rowdy Girls Weekend...the conclusion...

Let's see if the rest of those pictures will load now. Here are a few of our husbands...Hank explaining his tax plan to Louis on the dock and to Will in front of the football game, as well as a few of them throwing the shrimp net.

They actually caught us a nice little mess of shrimp that we boiled and put on the table along with our delicious steaks at suppertime. They're pretty good guys to have managed dealing with the rowdy girls for all of these years.

The Rowdy Girls (and husbands) Get Back to the Real World

We had such a wonderful time at the river this weekend. Hank is always a man with a plan and we had a great time even though the weather was rainy. Louis was interested in my blogging or at least he pretended to be which tickled me to no end. Sue, Meg and I took a little excursion out and about on Saturday afternoon, and we all ate WAY too much. It's funny how we've changed over the years, yet in our own eyes (which all now require reading glasses as we're well over the "40" mark) we still see the same six sweet young people that we were when we met so many years ago. We talked about our children, politics, education, and the economy. Hank and I love these people and are so blessed to have them in our lives. I have a few photos to share so here we go...The first pictures below are at a little cider store on Hwy 17. They have the best pickles, chutneys, jams, jellies and more. Meg is with me in the photo inside and that's Meg and Sue out

in front.

We left the roadside shop and drove a few miles to Old Sheldon Church. It is such a beautiful and historic site, burned by the British during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt, then burned again by General Sherman and Union soldiers during the Civil War. As an aside, I've often thought Old Sheldon would be gorgeous for a wedding but you just can't trust the weather (or the bugs) around here...at least I'm not brave enough.

For some reason my photos aren't uploading in an efficient manner...I spent about three hours last night just getting the above done and already awhile this morning with no results. I'm going to post these and add the others tonight....hopefully the issue will be taken care of by then. Have a Happy Monday and a great week!

Beaufort Weekend with the Rowdy Girls

Well, that's an exaggeration...we weren't really that rowdy, but Beaufort Weekend with the Didn't Stay Out Too Late Studious Socially Responsible Girls doesn't have the same effect.

Hank and I are getting together with my two best college pals and their husbands for a couple of days down at the summer house in Beaufort. Some of the best memories I have include these people. Hank was the "first husband," followed by Will and then Louis.

Sue, who is married to Louis, was my roommate for all four years of college and Meg, married to Will, was our suite mate for the last three. We all really liked Louis from the start. I can't say the same for Will...oh mercy, we did NOT like him when we met him (well, except for Meg of course). The reason...he didn't pay the rowdy girls enough attention on the night we first met him at their engagement party (imagine that) and we eventually told him so. To his credit, he mended his wicked ways quickly (not really having a choice) and we'd decided to give him a chance by the time they got married 23 years ago.

On Saturday morning, the guys will throw the shrimp net and we girls will sit around in our pajamas drinking coffee until lunchtime. We might watch a movie or a football game...maybe play cards and take naps. We'll sit on the dock and watch the sunset and then throw some steaks on the grill about dark. We'll eat and drink and and talk until we start to get hoarse and can't hold our eyes open. Sunday morning will bring more coffee drinking and shrimp net throwing, but about noon we'll have to force ourselves back into reality, clean up, and start for home. I'll be back on Sunday with PICTURES!!

Have a lovely weekend, y'all!

A Note to Tommy Bowden and the Tigers

BOYS...you're breaking my heart! What in the world is going on??

TOMMY...I'm a pretty fair motivational speaker and I'm volunteering here and now to be your life coach to help you through this. You've got too much talent on that field to be playing ball like this. I'm thinking your guy up in the booth coaching the offensive line could use my help also. Just leave me comment and I'll take personal leave and come to Clemson to help you out before the Georgia Tech game.

Your friend and concerned fan,
Belle

Life of a Southern Belle Award

Three quotation Thursday will be back soon. In the meantime, it's time to bestow the Life of a Southern Belle Award on another very worthy blogger.

The Pink Owl is one of my daily reads and a recent post, My Career and How I Got There was an incredibly interesting story about how this prissy little gal came to live her dream of becoming an honest to goodness Deputy Sheriff by way of teaching school. It ain't for the faint of heart (law enforcement OR teaching), let me tell you! (and then there is Hot Police Boy....). Last, but not least...she's a Clemson girl and in my book she's a Southern Belle all the way!!

It's my pleasure to pass along the Life of a Southern Belle Award to The Pink Owl!

I Know...It's a Bummer

After such a fun giveaway week, this week seems kind of dull. Well, dull from a blogging perspective but LIFE....whew...not a dull moment here.

Legare did a friend a favor last Friday night by driving her home from a party. Her SUV was much larger than his Passat and he bumped another vehicle in the parking lot. WELL...as he is no longer on our car insurance, he's had to try to figure this whole thing out with his new insurance company and the other two people involved and has wanted to consult (and rightfully so...we're glad he calls) his dad at every turn. (Maybe I could come up with a new lawyer joke...what happens when three law students have to negotiate a fender bender...Oh never mind...I'm terrible with jokes.) Everything is fine but it took up most of Legare's weekend after he had practice exams on Friday.

In the meantime, Lorelai has decided that she wants to change her major from Food Science/Nutrition to Early Childhood Education. I've always believed that she has the heart of a teacher...and ultimately a counselor and told her so a couple of years ago when she started thinking about college. Nutrition and exercise will always be a huge part of her life (she's SO much better than me!) but as a hobby/lifestyle and not a career. A lot of my educator friends are saying "NO, not education...it's a thankless job," but I tell you, I think that individuals are CALLED to be educators much like people are called to be pastors. (That's not to say that there aren't people in both professions who weren't called, but then they're often not very good at what they do.) I know I was called to be an educator and feel it deep down in my soul that Lorelai has been as well.

So....part of the hubbub of the week has been trying to decide whether or not she should just drop Chemistry since she won't need it. Dropping the four hour course would put her one credit hour under full time student status and that opens up a whole heap of mess, so, she's just going to have to tough it out. It won't be a barrel of laughs that's for sure, BUT we just gotta do what we gotta do with a Southern Belle smile on our face (while we grit out teeth and say ugly words under our breath) and get through it. But you know...part of the lifestyle in the Land of Belle is a PRIZE when we've had to work really really hard.

Hey Lor....are you reading this...can you say "shopping spree" when the semester is over? (Don't tell your brother or he'll be making a shopping list too!) Remember those cute shoes on Petunia's blog? I know Weezie would love to see us in Gwynn's right around Christmas time. Those peep toe pumps probably come in a bunch of colors. I got a Tiffany catalogue in the mail today...ahh...blue boxes with white bows...EVERYWHERE. (OK...maybe not everywhere but we can dream, can't we?) Lunch at Charleston Place...Copper Penny...Saks...dinner at The Woodlands. A SPA DAY!!!!!! YES YES YES YES...MAMA NEEDS A SPA DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on...Kick Chemistry's Patooty!!!!!!

And the Week of Jubilee Winners Are...

And what a week it was...I had so much fun and felt like the belle of the ball with all of the happy birthday wishes... I surely do wish I had prizes for each and every person. This I can tell you, I'm following each of you either through Bloglines or Blogspot follower. The giveaway might be over but you're not rid of the likes of Belle...no sireee! You can't have too many blog friends as far as I'm concerned!

Giveaway winners....You'll need to send me an e-mail with your addresses and/or choices to lifeofasouthernbelle@gmail.com

Monday: Screen Doors and Sweet Tea--Recipes and Tales from a Southern Cook
THE WINNER IS..........JJ Parky

Tuesday: Subscription to Southern Living or Real Simple, your choice
THE WINNER IS........Ellyn over at a Little Piece of Heaven

Wednesday: DVD of my favorite movie of all time…The Big Chill
THE WINNER IS......KD Lost from FROGGITY

Thursday: $25 Starbucks gift card OR $25 Target gift card, your choice
THE WINNER IS......The Mrs at One Fabulous Mom

AND TA-DAHHHHHH
Grand Prize Friday: $25 Target Gift Card, The Big Chill DVD, and subscription to Southern Living or Real Simple, your choice
THE WINNER IS......Shannon from The Scribble Pad

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY!! We'll do this again next year, if not before!

Week of Jubilee- GRAND PRIZE FRIDAY

It's been a fun-filled week and I've had SO many wonderful comments and birthday wishes. Hank and the kids didn't let me down and my friends at work went above and beyond, giving me a gift certificate to one of my favorite stores, a local establishment by the name of Palmetto Moon. LOTS of Clemson items....LOTS and LOTS!
Now, for the BIG prizes...

$25 Target Gift Card, The Big Chill DVD, and your choice of a subscription to Southern Living or Real Simple.

My, my, my...if you comment today, did the giveaway post, and added me to your blog roll or followers list your name is in the hat for today's drawing 16 times!

Thanks so much for playing this week and for all of the kinds words...hope you had as much fun as I did. I'm taking a posting day off tomorrow but will do my "who won" post and notify the winners on Sunday.

Have a safe and happy weekend.

Giveaway Week of Jubilee- Day 4

If you missed my Week of Jubilee post, just click here to see the rules for the week.

And it's my BIRTHDAY! The $65,000 question is whether or not Legare will remember. He forgot when he went away for freshman year and sent me a belated card about a week later with the perfect message...it was something like, "I don't answer to anybody...I make my own rules...I'm young, I'm wild, I'm living out on my own, CALL ME COYOTE...oh, by the way, I'm really sorry I forgot your birthday."

Just one more reminder that you get extra chances for Grand Prize Friday (time flies...that's TOMORROW) if you've added me to a blogroll or followers list. Just be sure to let me know. All winners will be notified no later than Sunday, October 5.

Today's prize is your choice of a $25 Starbucks gift card OR $25 Target gift card. I honestly don't know which one I would choose since we have both not too far away.

DRUM ROLL....Grand Prize Friday...coming up tomorrow!

Giveaway Week of Jubilee- Day 3

If you missed my Week of Jubilee post, just click here to see the rules for the week. Remember that you get extra chances for Grand Prize Friday if you add me to a blogroll or followers list by the end of the week. Just be sure to let me know. All winners will be notified no later than Sunday, October 5.

Today, you get TWO chances to win if you say Happy Birthday to me in your comment. (I have to confess, I got confused when I set the rules and thought that my birthday was today...NOPE, it's tomorrow, but we won't change the rules now)

Today's prize is a copy of my favorite movie in the whole entire world forever and ever and ever. The Big Chill.

I don't know why I love it so much. Maybe it's because it was filmed in my neck of the woods but I think it's more because it reminds me of how special old friendships are. Hank and I have many wonderful friends, both old and new but there's something about the people who "knew you when"...back before you were somebody's wife or somebody's mother or the district coordinator of blah blah blah. If you're still friends with any of those people then you know exactly what I'm talking about. GOOD LUCK!