Hot Local Vacation Spots

Summer is finally in full swing!

With Nashville, and most of the surrounding area recovering from flood damage, my family has been looking for alternative outings on the weekends. The weather is way to beautiful to just sit inside all day. I thought it would be fun to put up a couple of the cheesy (yet so much fun) places we have been this summer.


1. Lost River Cave - Bowling Green, KY
Too much fun. How many people get to say they took a boat ride through a cave? I know I didn't care that the water was only about three feet deep. There are also some pretty hiking trails around the cave.

2. Cooter's Place - Nashville, TN
After driving by Cooter's four times, we realized it wasn't a funny little restaurant to eat at, but rather a museum dedicated to the Dukes of Hazzard. My husband was like a kid in a candy store. I know he'll have a picture of himself standing by the General Lee on Facebook any day now.

While I'm here, I have to give a big shout out to Ft. Campbell for there wonderful fireworks display. We had a blast at the carnival. My only regret is that we missed the parachute team.

Anyone been to any great spots this summer not normally found on the map?

New Layout!

Had a blast redoing the look of my blog. I've not been running it very long, and had no clue what I was doing designing it to begin with. I finally found time to do some digging and realized it was far easier to do than I had figured. Hope you all think it looks as good as I do!

stupid monospaced typewriters!

Finally! Finally, I have completed my last assignments today. They are turned in, and I could not be more ecstatic. It is kind of an odd feeling. I can't say that I'm really all that proud, just glad that it is over. I have time to decide if I'll be going back later for more torture. Probably...

On to another completely random question though. I recently had a request for more material on my book by a super, awesome (and many other fun crazy words) agent. Even if she hates my writing, it has been a blast going over her blog. Anyway, on her page, she specifically outlines that submitted manuscripts should have only one space after the period. I started flipping out and scoured the web to find a way to eliminate my double spacing.

The solution was relatively simple. Use the find/replace function in word and presto. All 5,000+ changes made with one simple push of a button. However, I also stumbled into this hefty argument over which way is correct. Turns out, the way I was taught is wrong! Something about it going back to mono-spacing on typewriters or something. Newsflash, not even 30 yet. I've had a computer in my classroom since early elementary. Still, this did not stop my teachers from drilling me about inserting two spaces after end punctuation.

So now, back to what I really wanted to know. Should I try to change this terrible habit of double spacing, even though I cannot seem to keep my thumb from doing it automatically? Or, should I simply not worry about it except for manuscripts and then just do a simple change at the end? I truly fear it is hopeless if it's best for me to just change after all this time!

The Job

I initially started this blog to keep me on track writing my books. Frankly put, I'm far to random for it to stay that way. And so, here begins the first of many odd misadventures that seem to find their way into my life.

Over the last few months Justin and I have decided to home school our monkey man, James. (Though he often informs us that is a gross miscalculation, and we should call him ape because he doesn't have a tail.... 5 year olds...sigh) Anyway, we have searched out our choice curriculum and started converting the office into a school room. James is a little nervous about the idea because he is sure he will miss his friends from Pre-K. He completely forgets them when we remind him he will get to start Taekwondo when he turns six. He also wants to learn to play the guitar, and we have discussed starting lessons for him when we start home schooling.

I explain all this only to show the complete irony in my job endeavors. Last fall I put in a few applications with the schools on post. I was going to go back to work when James first started school. I heard absolutely nothing back from any of the application submissions. Because we moved in December/January and I had to drive James back and forth to the military post for school, I began volunteering each day at the school. In the last few days, I have been offered a job. Twice! What's a girl to do?

Ultimately, I have kindly declined. My son comes first, and my husband and I do not want him in public school for many reasons. The money would be nice, but is not necessary. I am blessed that my husband has a job that completely provides for us. And should something change, the vice principal, who is in charge of hiring for the school, told me to come see him.