Hangin' out at home... well, sorta.

In this photo, Cooper is patiently waiting for our plane to take off from Dallas while reading a copy of American Way magazine.  She loved this issue because Jack Black is on the cover... go figure.   Our plane sat on the runway for almost an hour before finally taking off in a rainstorm.  Linda did not approve.  Cooper and I played patty-cake and read the sky-mall while Mom fought a little touch of the air-sickness.  Poor mama.  By the way, Linda is the only person I know who can still be cute and funny while feeling nauseous- what a woman!

The trip to Dallas ended up being a really good thing for both of us because we realized how lucky we are to (a) have such great family on both sides of the equation and (b) have one another in this "parenting" game.  The airports alone seem to require both of us- a tip of the hat to those moms who go it alone- Respect.

Now... this little jewel to my right is what people

 in Highland Village try to pass off as a Wal-Mart.  Much love to the people who worked hard to go "green" on the inside, but as a small-town Mississippi boy, it was awfully hard to swallow a Wal-Mart that had a dunkin-donuts AND a sushi bar.  It's like my people won the lotto and didn't exactly know what to do, so they hired a consultant.  Wow.  To be truthful, I was impressed... but also completely overwhelmed by the sheer bizarreness of a Wal-Mart that was landscaped and meticulously cleaned.  I'm fairly sure that you could go bare-foot and not get grocery-store-feet (which, for those of you that don't know, is when the bottoms of your feet get black from walking in the grocery store without shoes) although I did not test this theory.  

P.S.  They also have a bakery with a brick oven.  I'm pretty sure that most bakeries in Mississippi don't have brick ovens.  Stay tuned, there's lots more to talk about.

Highland Village vs. Highland Park: Can there be too many Highlands?

Yesterday we enjoyed a relaxing Sunday morning hanging out at Su-wann's house in the verdant hills of Highland Village, Texas. The girls went on a run while Uncle Alan and I solved some of the problems of the world. I even got a good walk/jog in around the local lake. It felt good to me out in the Texas sunshine. Cooper was a big hit with everyone, including her Paw-Paw Latchford, who was really the impetus for this whole Dallas trip. Linda and I wanted to make sure that he and Lana (his wife) got a chance to see her before she took off from the mainland.

Sunday evening, Linda, Cooper, and I trucked on down the North Dallas tollway to go see Linda's dad at home in another Highland... apparently this one has a park instead of a village, which is actually misleading because we did stop in the Highland Park Village to get some cookies from a little bakery.

Side bar: Linda changed shirts in the parking lot, which I'm sure is a big no-no in Highland Park culture- I have no idea what Highland Village would say about it... but maybe the fact that it was done in the Highland Park Village exonerates her from any upturned noses or dirty looks because of it's connection to both neighborhoods. Maybe they just think she's "artsy" for changing shirts right in the parking lot. P.S. we were parked next to a Bentley convertible- that's got to count for something. Nobody ever said the Nelsons aren't classy.

Anyway, back to the fun... the cookies were for Lana and they were really delicious. The Latchfords entertained us with burger house (normally yum, but a little off their game this time) and we were glad to have accomplished this part of our family connections trip. Linda and her dad got to spend some QT on the way to pick up burgers, and I enjoyed watching Mr. L hold his grandaughter. Those blue eyes definitely come from somewhere. Fun day all in all, but we sure were ready for bed when the time rolled around.

Today has been interesting too... but more on that later. Betty Sue fell, Donna and Alan win aunt and uncle of the year, and Linda actually took a nap... so there's lots to write about. I'm also trying to talk Su-wann into modeling her bridesmaid dress for the wedding in a couple of weeks. I think it would make a lovely addition to the blog-o-rama. Stay tuned...

Destination: Dallas

Yesterday the entire family boarded an American Eagle aero-plane and headed off to Dallas for a few days. I have to admit, I wasn't exactly looking forward to leaving the mountain-top retreat for the concrete jungle, but when we got off the plane and K.G. (Katherine Grace) and Sue-wann (Sue Ann) were there to greet us, I got excited about being there. We pulled into the driveway at Sue Ann's (after a brief stop at Starbucks and Jason's Deli- one for me and one for Katherine) Donna, Alan, and Betty Sue were waiting to give us hugs! Yea!

I'll have some pictures when I get back to my own computer, including the fanciest Wal-Mart on earth- but for now, you'll have to just use your imagination. My people probably wouldn't know what to think about a Wal-Mart this fancy, but I suspect that some of my folks just came into a whole lot of money and decided to make architectural and discount-shopping magic (dare I say History?).

Tonight we hang out with Daddy Latchford, which I'm sure will warrant its' own posting. Perhaps we'll eat at Olive Garden.

Wal-Mart, Sewanee, and the courage to sleep late...

Last night the girls and I made our way down the mountain (and then up another mountain, and down that one) to help celebrate our friend Jessie's graduation party in Sewanee (Alto, to be precise).  Jessie is Anne's daughter, and Anne introduced me to Linda... now you have the back story.  We arrived on the mountain just in time to feed Cooper at one of our favorite spots in Sewanee- Green's View.  It was a gorgeous afternoon and the temperature was just perfect.  The dogs went on their customary walk down University Avenue and we had a magical dinner at Crust pizza- which just may be the best I've ever had.  The pizza defies genre- it has a super-thin crust and a sauce which ought to be trademarked.  I had sausage, mushrooms, and anchovies (yes, some people actually put them on pizza) and Linda had her usual bacon, red pepper, and feta.  MMMMM!

The party was fun, although we only got to stay a short time, which I was actually glad about because the sooner we left Alto, the sooner we got to Wal-Mart in Kimball/South Pittsburg!  If you've never been to this particular Wal-Mart, then let me just tell you that it is absolutely the most interesting Wal-Mart in the world.  Sure, it's just a run of the mill big-box discount store, but for some reason, Kimball Wal-Mart is always crowded... with my people.  Now, those of you that know, my people are the kind of people that don't mind spending a Thursday night in the Wal-Mart looking at everything from semi-fresh produce to must-see TV in the electronics department (and I'm not talking about them really wanting to see a certain brand of TV, I mean a couple of guys in blue jeans and trucker caps watching Grey's Anatomy- true story).

So, after hanging out with the entertaining people of Kimball, South Pittsburg, and the greater Grundy County area- Linda and I finally made it home, dogs and Cooper sound asleep in the road crushing Honda Element.

And finally, a word about sleeping late...  a few days ago, Linda let me sleep until 11:30 and ever since, I've been dying to return the favor.   Unfortunately, Cooper's feeding schedule won't usually allow for this, but this morning was different.  Linda gave Coop her side of the morning breakfast while relaxing in bed, then we went into the living room and had cereal while listening to the soothing sounds of Hawaiian music on satellite radio.  Way to go, Linda!  Way to finally unwind a little bit and get the rest you deserve!  Next stop for us is Dallas, and I'm sure I'll have something to say about that.

p.s.  cooper typed this:jkvb ttjm ygbjhbugyj

Pics from the Mountain House

3475 Lockwood Circle... Sold, but not forgotten.

When we arrived home last night after a long day of getting the house ready, we realized that we had officially become temporary residents of  the North Georgia mountains.  Thanks to our able agent, Michelle, our house closed at 5:00pm on Wednesday the 21st.  I mowed the yard one last time as a courtesy to our buyer, painted some windowsills, and even managed to show the Subaru wagon three times- talk about a full day.

After the work was finished and the house was sold, Linda, Cooper, and I went to Brenda and John Gwin's for a nice little dinner from Sticky Fingers.  We hung out with Shelley and Caldwell Huckabay, and the boys challenged me to a Wii Bowling tournament.  "FadaBen" (my stage persona- complete with sweet 'stache and amber aviator sunglasses) came in a strong second to a mighty Grayson "CHEEEEESE" Huckabay, who put on an exhibition in Wii craftsmanship.  Caldwell and John were worthy opponents, but no match for my Wii domination over them.  MC and Crosby provided much needed moral support for my second-place finish- Thanks Girls!

All of this is to say what I've already said before...  I sure am going to miss the folks at St. Paul's.

Closing the house was a surreal experience.  You walk in, sign some papers, and boom, you're without a home.  The house on Lockwood will always be our first home, and the place where Cooper came home from the hospital.  As I was mowing the yard, I realized that leaving this place is tough because this is where my family really came together as the amazing little crew that it is right now.  I know we're just starting out, but I sure do love having my girls and my boys (Biscuit and Bacon) together in a neat little bundle.  We seem to work pretty well together.  

The afternoon activity for today consists of a Gator ride and a trip to Wal-Mart.  I'm sure I'll have commentary.

Cooper on the move!!

Last Friday, Linda, Cooper, and I watched the movers miraculously load a twenty foot container with everything we own except for a few changes of clothes, an entire suitcase for Cooper, and the dogs.  Both of us were surprisingly relieved to have this major milestone passed in our journey toward Hawaii.  There is still a lot left to check off the list, but our "to-dos" have definitely gotten easier to manage as we make our way toward our new home.  

The hardest part for me has been saying good-bye to the parishioners who have supported us for the past couple of years.  My last Sunday was the eighteenth, and it was a bittersweet affair that celebrated the youth of St. Paul's and allowed me to have one last shot at saying good-bye.  The kids' choirs and hand-bells put on their year-end concert and it was really cool, I'm grateful that is how I'll get to remember a lot of those kids.

The hard part now is trying to fit people into an already difficult schedule of house closing and living almost an hour away from Chattanooga.  We're starting to have to say no to friends and that is tough for both of us.  After tomorrow, we're officially homeless (although we have an amazing home to "borrow" for the next couple of weeks) and our next stop is Dallas to say mainland "Alohas" to Linda's friends and family.

For now... we're settling down on the mountain and enjoying a quiet place to rest and relax before the next busy time.  The rain helped keep us inside most of the afternoon,   and I slept until almost noon, so I'd say we're starting to  get some rest.  Thanks be to God for that.  

The Nelsons Go Global!

Well, it's official...

Linda, Cooper, and I have gone world-wide.  This is our attempt to let everyone know what we are up to as we make the transition from mainlanders to real-live islanders.  We hope you get a kick out of reading our journeys, and we hope you'll drop us a line whenever you feel like it!