Water Bug

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days! There are three reasons for this - all of which I think are excellent reasons not to blog (although I have daily checked all of your blogs for updates! lol). First, I had a few slow blog days of ho-hum summer about which I didn't have much to say. Second, I had a couple buys days in which I was away from my computer. Third, my camera died and I didn't have batteries and I don't like to post without pictures - pictures make everything better! So, now I am back up and running... lets hit the highlights - You're in for a long post!



Friday I met Donnie, Julie, and Lynn at one of my most favorite places ever - Chili's! Who doesn't love their chips and salsa... with a bowl of Avocado Ranch on the side of course (if you haven't tried it, you should - I have converted all of my friends to order their chips 'n Salsa at Chili's with AR on the side!!). I don't have a picture from that night, but I do have this picture that shows (L to R) Lynn, Me, Yalitza (affectionately called Yatzi), and Julie! I can't find a picture of Donnie that's up close, just big group pictures - gotta work on that! lol.



Saturday me, La, and Moo had Girls Night! We headed to the Chop House for dinner and to see the movie "Sex and the City." Some of you may already know, I am a big fan of the show and was not disappointed by the movie! It was a perfect continuation of the show and I loved it! Here we are at the theater (La blinked in the pictures, but the girl that was taking it for us was less than enthusiastic, so we didn't ask for a retake!





And the big highlight of the last few days.... drum roll please...

THE LAKE!!! Yesterday was absolutely fabulous! I went to the lake! I absolutely love water - I am a natural born "water bug" be it swimming pool, lake, or ocean, I'll be there and love it! Always have, always will! I don't get to go very often - in fact last summer I didn't go even one time! However, my friends Jerri and Doug bought a boat at the end of summer last year!! Until yesterday, our schedules had conflicted in a way that I had not been able to join them on the lake yet! Fortunately for me, my dry spell ended and I hit the lake with splash!!!

Doug volunteered to be our chauffeur even though his back is out - how sweet!

Also along for the ride were Melissa and Lisa! (Lisa teaches at my school as well and Melissa used to teach at my school - I'm telling you, we teachers go wild and crazy in the summer!!!!)

Here is a picture of me and Jerri (Doug's wife - it's their boat!)

Please excuse the wind-blown, lake look! :-)

The real fun started when I decided I would knee board! I haven't done anything behind a boat in about two years, so I was a little shaky at first, but I got the feel back in no time!

Here we are getting ready - ropes crossed - never a good thing!!!

And here I am knee boarding while Melissa tubes!

And another picture of me and Jerri knee boarding - I'm just proud that I could get up, much less stay up! Trust my I am paying for it today! My arms and lower back muscles ache - they are used to a work out! Ha!

I LOVE Center hill lake! It is so nice, VERY deep, and the water is SO clear!!! The lake in East Tennessee I grew up going to is a lot more shallow that this one, not as clear and VERY developed! Center hill is 64 miles long and covers 18,200 acres! Almost all of the 415 miles of shoreline is undeveloped and natural. If you look back at the pictures you see there are no houses, the lake is surrounded by steep rock edges and forest! There are three different waterfalls you can hike to as well! It's just a great place - if you haven't spent a day up there you should certainly go!!!

These last two pictures are for my mom! When I told her I was going to Center Hill she asked if I would take these pictures for her! I had told her before that Alan Jackson (Country Music Singer) and Daryl Waltrip (former race car driver, now announcer) both live on Center Hill. I didn't take a picture of DWs house, but I did snag these of Alan Jackson's house (it's in the trees and hard to see) and his houseboat that is made to match his house!



So there is my update - in a very large nut shell! :-) What a great weekend!