Chattanooga Duck Date

Good Thursday morning!

More mountain photos today... and one of The Boy from way back when. He's 21 today! Happy Birthday, Austin!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Okay. I made the Pineapple Angel Food Cake last night. It was easy AND very, very good. I think I'm in love.

I will add a little more information to the recipe. I baked the cake in a greased 9" x 13" glass baking dish.

I baked it for a total of 35 minutes.

After 20 minutes, I put a piece of foil on top of the cake to keep it from getting too brown.

Other than those three little tips, that's all I have to say about the cake. Except it was moist, delicious and light.

I'm taking it to The Boy tonight to hold him until his REAL birthday cake and party Saturday.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Things I've Learned While Raising Teens... A Humbling Experience

How to NOT Embarrass Your Teen - I'm still learning regarding this topic, Folks, but I'm willing to share what little knowledge I have gained over the past few years.

How to NOT Embarrass Austin - Austin wasn't really a problem. He still yelled at me when he saw me unexpectedly. He still came up and hugged me in public. His friends came up and spoke to me. If the Big Gold Van drove past the high school, a line of teenage boys stood side-by-side and waved at me.

I had heard about how embarrassed teenagers were of their parents, but it didn't seem to apply to me... and I assumed it was because I regularly fed Austin and his friends.

If you feed them, they will come.

How to NOT Embarrass Josh - Josh was much like Austin. I didn't approach him, but he didn't seem to have any problem approaching me, talking to me, putting an arm around my shoulders. Sometimes he even sat beside me in public.

I had heard about how embarrassed teenagers were of their parents, but it didn't seem to apply to me... and I assumed it was because I was super cool and hip.

How to NOT Embarrass Roxie - This is the one I'm still trying to figure out... and I'm failing miserably as I type this.

I have found the following can and will embarrass and totally humiliate your teenage chick:

1. Breathing.

2. Wearing a Tigger sweatshirt in public.

3. Wearing loafers with sweat pants even though you are NOT getting out of the car, and you're coming home to put on your sneakers and the rest of your exercise clothes after you drop her off.

4. Waving at someone you know in a passing car.

5. Not waving at someone you know in a passing car.

6. Singing with the radio.

7. Wearing sunglasses with one missing earpiece.

8. Blowing kisses during a basketball game.

9. Cheering too loudly at a basketball game.

10. Not cheering enough at a basketball game.

11. Kissing your husband (her father) in the kitchen.

12. Kissing your husband (her father) in public.

13. Holding hands with your husband (her father) in private or public.

14. Ordering fried dill pickles.

15. Breathing.

This list is much, much longer, but I have other things to do today.

I am assured by mothers of 20-something chicks that this is yet another "phase." I take a great deal of comfort in that fact. But until then, I am still learning. The following story perfectly illustrates my current "season" of life.

I Broke My Toe

Roxie was eating breakfast with some friends before school yesterday morning. Since I wasn't exercising this particular Wednesday morning, I asked if she minded if I came along and visited with a couple of the other moms.

"No. That's fine," she assured me.

I knew the other moms didn't sit with the chicks, so we could visit and that would be fun... for me.

I also knew one of the moms dropped off a child at Bragg, so since she was getting in the car line anyway, she would take the group of girls to school together and that would be fun for Roxie.

Roxie and I were walking into the local Chick when the toe of one of my shoes caught on the sidewalk and I tripped. I caught myself, and I heard Roxie's reassuring, "Thank goodness you didn't fall. I don't think anyone saw you."

"Well, that's really not the problem here," I told her.

She looked at me. "What's wrong?"

"I'm pretty sure I broke my toe," I said, and I slipped my foot out of my shoe to survey the damage.

"Hmmm. Can you get your foot back in the shoe?" she asked.

"I think so. Yes. There. It's in the shoe, but it really, really hurts."

"Bless your heart. Can you walk?"

I took a couple of limping steps. "Yes. It is just super painful."

"I am so sorry. Do you think you can walk without limping and/or hopping?"

I practiced a second and found if I EVER SO SLOWLY walked on the injured foot, I could move it in a semi-normal fashion. "Yes, but I can't believe walking normally is good for a broken bone."

"Oh. I'm sure it isn't. However, if you can just walk normally, keep your shoe on, DO NOT mention you tripped in the MOST public place in Gardendale and smile naturally, we may be able to survive this horribly, horribly embarrassing situation."

"Okay. That's what I live for, you know. Surviving horribly, horribly embarrassing situations."

"I know, Mom. And I love you for it."

And while my toe appears to NOT be broken after all, it is swollen and painful and sad.

But it's all good, because I learned yet another way to NOT embarrass my teen chick.

Being a mother of teenagers ain't for sissies.

I may have that tattooed prominently on my 50 year-old body... but I have a feeling it might embarrass someone!

RANDOMNESS #3 - 15th Annual Mountain Trip - Day Three - We knew there was a chance of snow and/or rain on Day Three. Thus, the planned trips to Wonder Works and Knife Works. Inside places.

However, we were not prepared for the next morning. When we woke up, we were in "pea soup" fog. Thick, white, can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face fog.

We watched the weather. It wasn't very cold, but the forecaster suggested a "no traveling" day if it was at all possible. And since we were on TOP of a huge mountain with an unbelievably curvy road as our only way out, we decided to treat him like James Spann... and we did as he instructed.

You would think there would have been moans and groans and gnashing of teeth because our plans were cancelled, but it was really very, very pleasant.

We let the boys sleep until 12:30 p.m. (That's right. That's what teenage boys like to do, and we were all about making them happy.)

We also decided to have Zac's party mid-day instead of that night. If the fog ever lifted, he and the other guys could have a good time playing air soft. (Beverly had brought not only his new gifts, but Zac's air soft arsenal from home. Automatic weapons for everyone!)

The party went well. The fog did not lift.

Josh and Zac decided to air soft anyway. The fog did not lift.

We played games, watched television, napped and ate WAY too much. The fog did not lift.

Finally, about 4:30 the afternoon of Day Three, the temperature dropped and big, wet snowflakes began to fall.

Yes! We were going to get snowed in! No school Monday OR Tuesday because we weren't going to be able to get off the top of the mountain. And it would be considered an "act of God." Again... YES!

Wait! Before we got too excited, Beverly and I did an inventory of the food supply.

Slim Jims... Check!

Cheese Danish... Check!

Cuties... Check!

Leftover birthday cake... Check!

Okay. We had four out of five of the major food groups (meat, dairy, breads, fruits). We were good to go!

We went to bed relaxed knowing we wouldn't have to get up and hurry, hurry, hurry to leave our little cabin on the mountain.

But we were so wrong. (I'll have the last installment of this riveting mountain tale tomorrow!)

Blog Linkage - I have LOTS of local linkage today.

1. Go to eighteen25 under My Blog List and read the post entitled "(past projects) st. patrick's day" dated February 22. If you are looking for something special to do with the kiddos, click on any of the boxes under this link.

2. Go to Nesting Place under My Blog List and read the post entitled "Statement Pieces" dated February 22. This was a fun post to read. I tried to find the "statement piece" in each picture before she told me what it actually was (green piano, giant fish, etc.). I didn't do very well... but I am thinking of painting my old piano orange. POP!

3. Go to Six Sisters' Stuff under My Blog List... today... and tomorrow... and every day in between. You can scroll to the end of the page and click on "Older Posts" to catch up if you haven't been there in a week or so.

4. Go to Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List. Scroll down to the post entitled "How Cowboys Say Good-Bye" dated February 21. I learned a little something by reading this post. It was sweet and interesting.

5. Go to Big Mama under My Blog List and read "It's so fluffy I'm gonna die" dated February 23. It's funny and light and true.

Chattanooga Duck Date

Once again, Birmingham Bargain Mom helped me out with a fantastic date idea!

Groupon has a deal on the Chattanooga Ducks in Downtown Chattanooga. The cost of an adult or child ticket for an amphibious vehicle tour of the Tennessee River is only $5 for one ticket. AND YOU CAN BUY TWO TICKETS. That's only $10 for a fun, memorable, fantastic Chattanooga Duck Date!

The renovated World War II amphibious cruiser ushers passengers across dry land and waterways in a one-hour tour of the Tennessee River and surrounding landscape.

If you think you have to go this weekend (and you can't possibly go this weekend), it is okay. The Groupon coupon expires July 25, 2012.

There is a limit of two tickets per person, but you can buy an additional 9 tickets as gifts.

For more details, Google "Birmingham Bargain Mom" and click on Coupons. When you reach that page, type Chattanooga Ducks in the Search Box and it will take you directly to the information you will need to buy these tickets.

What a great all-day date with one of your guys. Talk and listen to music on the way, eat at a fun place after the Tour (Chattanooga Choo-Choo) and then head home.

Perfect!

Have a terrific Thursday. I'll be back tomorrow with the last of the mountain pics and stories, Weekend Happenings and just a little bit more.

Take care, and I'll talk to you in the morning.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda