I have not done a very good job blogging -- lots going on especially here in Carillon - but the longer I live here the more I want to tell everyone about everything ... not just where I live.  So I am considering another blog name - problem is  I am so NOT TECHNICAL or ... I am a terrible NERD ...  I am researching EASY blogs and FREE blogs because:
1) As I said above --- I am not technical

2) I am not rolling in the dough

3) And did I mention, I am not technical?

That is the biggest part of blogging for me --- I don't know how and I don't know how to make it look good, but so many others have so it can't be too hard -

So now that I am spending more time (or all of my time) either washing clothes, toting kids, looking for seashells, selling on Ebay and the most time on Gameday For Heroes (yes football is ALREADY HERE) ... I am going to have to come up with something while I look for part-time work while Mike travels... sooooooo stay tune my friends.

Not doing too good with this Bloggin' Thing

Why in the world did I think I would have time to blog?  Why? WHy? WHY? - I thought some folks blogs looked so cool and it had to be easy - well... little did I know that I can't figure it out to save my life --- so I just stopped.

But I read a really great blog today and decided maybe, just maybe (doubtful but maybe) someone out there might learn one thing from my blog - regardless what it is surely God has me here for a reason (one which I haven't figured out yet) ... what if it was to write a blog so.....

Our family made it through our first winter as "LOCALS" at the beach.  Boy did I love it!  So much so that I got waders to continue my new found love for Seashelling!

Hannah holding Kricket, Me in my Waders with my bucket and Mattie Alan holding Nemo

So .... seashelling --- Oh we took our first college visit to a place I promise I never thought we would be - but since Hannah is such a BRAINIAC we had to go to Tallahassee for the Latin Club Regional (where she won a bunch of ribbons! AND we just got her GOLD Medal for the National Latin Club Etymology Exam - don't ask cause I sure as heck don't know Latin --- you see it is ALL Latin to me!) ... so I guess the Tallahassee part gave it away - of course I had to get my pic made in the Stadium and of course a pic of Bobby Bowden Field cause he is AMAZING!

So Hannah likes FSU and I did too -- not sure I can see her going there, but it sure is close.  For all of you folks out there that think she is going to Auburn ... well you have another thing coming ... although my heart would be SO HAPPY - I don't see that happening.  You see, Hannah isn't like her Mom where the world revolves around Auburn, Auburn and Auburn Football - she really could care less about football.  She will get in wherever she tries (you should see her 10th grade ACT scores).  Can you tell I am proud?

Well, in the meantime I have started working as a Travel Agent with Travels By Donna - I love Donna Comer - she is amazing and this travel agent job although frustrating at times is really cool!  NO it isn't cheaper to get on Kayak, Priceline, or book a cruise on-line AND NO in most cases VRBO isn't cheaper and you really have NO WAY to change things if you don't use a travel agent.  I'll leave it at that.  I also have a few other things I am working on ... I will keep everyone posted on that too.

I am going to skip a bunch of stuff and go right to some the sad --- I lost someone that was very near and dear to me - my dear friend from grade school on up and maid of honor in my wedding, Kari Swann Davidson passed away after a long battle with brain cancer.  Words can't even describe what this was like - but one thing is I am so glad I made that long trip to see her about 6 weeks before she died.  We were able to laugh and cry and it even snowed in Gadsden, AL --- WOW --- I just don't think it is fair for a beautiful, loving amazing mom, teacher and dear friend to die at 44 years old.  But she was so strong and she is in heaven I know for sure!  Read this and you will know how amazing she was - I love and miss you Kari!

 http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gadsdentimes/obituary.aspx?age=lifestory&pid=163664179#fbLoggedOut

Kari Brooke Swann Davidson (1968-2013)

Mattie Alan is continuing to grow up way too fast - she is making straight A's and loves the Iphone she got for her Birthday - LOVELY - how my life has changed since thank you Instagram!  What I have enjoyed are the visits from her besties in Columbus - Abby and Hannah J --- they crack me up!  Mattie Alan is learning how to play the keyboard and is singing lead in her band!  And she is amazing!  Typically 12 going on 25 - More on her later...

Playing a little Gin 

Hannah and I have joined the Gulf Coast Seashell Club!  Holy cow I had no idea how amazing these little critters are that make these beautiful shells.  I didn't expect to like going to a Seashell Club and I didn't think the girls would either, but Hannah digs it (no pun on diggers) cause of the Latin and well --- they are just cool.  More on this later too!

Gameday For Heroes is going strong - the website upgrade has had a little (well big) setback ... but hopefully we can get things on track.  With me working again I will have to learn how to let volunteers actually help.  Something I have a hard time doing --- letting go.  I will write a whole different blog on Gameday!  Some really cool stuff has been going on!

Since I had no idea that I was going to blog - that would be the ADD setting in ... I better get back to what I was actually working on --- so I'll continue to Carry on in Carillon and we will see what adventures I can share ... just wait til you hear about the dumpster diving ... I'll save that to leave ya hangin'!

Night Night to those that aren't vampires --- well I'm not either, but can't seem to sleep ... 

It has been a while since I have had time to breathe - can you imagine that ... living in para - para - Paradise (Coldplay, of course) but Gameday For Heroes has taken up a bit of time - actually a lot of time.  This is a good thing.  At least I get to sit out on the patio talking to donors, getting our military tickets to go see their favorite college teams play ... 

Since football has always consumed most of our weekends in the fall since we graduated from college (gosh was that 22 years ago...) I have only spent a weekend or two at the beach.  Now anyone that knows me knows I don't miss an Auburn game - luckily we had a lot of away games and quite a few early games ... having kids especially ones that decide to grow up on you and have schedules that don't always seem to coincide with me attending games now that we are 4 hours away I have gotten to enjoy the beach more in the fall.

I don't think I ever knew what I was missing ... WOW - I have decided that for sure this is my favorite time of year...I still can sit on the beach, but what is so amazing is the water - the beautiful colors - the sunsets - UNBELIEVABLE!  I have gotten into the habit of taking sunset pictures every evening ... I don't get tired of it although I have a friend that says ... "they'll be a thousand more like it" ... no way - everyday they take my breath away - so you will see a lot of sunsets - I don't get up early enough for sunrise - granted I'm sure they are beautiful ... but for now I will stick to sunsets - I need the beauty sleep!

I got to see the Carillon ladies put up the Christmas decorations when I was taking Kricket and Nemo for a walk - they have really made this place festive - getting me all ready to start thinking about Christmas well before I like too.  But the wreaths on the beach walkovers - LOVE LOVE LOVE!  The beautiful tree by the Carillon Bell ... I need to get a picture of that.

But what has been my most favorite is hunting for shells in the beautiful water.  It has gotten colder here than I expected this early, but that hasn't stopped me from being Sally the Seashell queen.  I have buckets and buckets.  I have spent hours cleaning and drying shells.  I guess I will have to get crafty ... isn't this amazing?  So now I will be starting a new hobby ... Look at all of these shells right out my back door!!!

Things are slowing down here now which is nice  - not many people so it is time for enjoying the beach and getting ready for the holidays...I'll keep Carry'n On in Carillon for now...

Working Away on a Beautiful Day

Remember when I said moving to the beach was not always a vacation - well, I got to work all day sitting on the patio - overlooking the ocean (I know I hear ya ... it is a rough life, but somebody has to do it)!  The one thing was between the calls, the emails, the spreadsheets, the emails, the calls, the emails, the spreadsheet oh did I mention the e-mails ... I am not sure I even looked at the view.  You see ... I always say I am not going to take last minute tickets or request for Gameday For Heroes - but I can't stand the thought of our military not being able to attend a game no matter what hoops have to be jumped through.

For those that don't know, I have the best non-paying job in the world --- I am the Director of a not-for-profit that sends miitary (wounded, active and veterans) to college sporting events and right now we are BUSY!  Tomorrow we have military attending the following games:  Alabama v LSU, Auburn v New Mexico St., Tennessee v Troy, Texas A&M v Mississippi St., Georigia v. Ole Miss and Arkansas v. Tulsa.  But you know the view here even if I didn't get to see it was still better than the view our military has seen while they were deployed!  So I'll keep plugging away at the emails, phone calls, emails, phone calls, spreadsheets and emails then I'll get to see the view .... check out www.gamedayforheroes.org

This is how I ended that part of the day

One of the funniest things is that I am just DYING to do SUP Yoga - yep Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga - can you imagine ... I can't even do yoga on the ground, but there is a new company that has just opened here in Carillon and I have to watch them do the dog something or another and the lying something or another and the stand down whatever and the funny thing is no one ever falls off the board.  How can that be?  Walking on Water Paddle Board is starting Yoga classes!  I had to laugh when I saw the hand out ... it offers Earth Yoga (I guess that is "old-fashion" yoga for us old folks - ya know I am 44), SUP Yoga and Hammock Yoga - yep you saw that Hammocks hanging from the ceiling ... well, I'll see if I can get my courage up --- keep ya posted.

So there is a wedding tomorrow so that is about as much excitement as there will be here in Carillon - looks like all these folks came from up north - little did they know it has been freezing down here ... jeez like low in the 50s - ya know they have to be freezing there northern butts off.  But tomorrow it is suppose to be beeeee uuuu tttt iiiii ffffuuuulllll - I just hate football is on all day ... cause I will be in front of the tv - but still emjoying the view!

Living at the Beach

Well, we did it ... finally... we moved!  Guess where we are - the beach (I know, shocker)!  We have always loved the 30A area and knew this is where we wanted to end up after the girls were off to college.  But what do you know - sometimes life throws you a wave so you ride it where it takes you ... right to home.

One thing that is hard to remember is living at the beach isn't vacation - but that is ok.  I wake up every morning to the sound of the ocean and a view that will make even those that don't like the beach (how can that even be?) jealous.  So I'll just keep Carry'n on in Carillon and bring everyone updates, ideas, thoughts, and just whatever the waves bring at me.

So as you can see we will make new friends and share our first Halloween at Carillon with this beautiful sunset to send this kids off to trick or treat  .... watch out for these candy eating, football lovin', cheshire cat costumes!  I promise the Tarletons are here and Carillon will never be the same!