Good times throwing the football and listening to music with the family this evening. Todd and Tiller were coming up with creative things to do before she completed her routes. (Nerds.) Jumping jacks, dances, knock knock jokes.
This was the funniest.
Little traitor.
Also, does my voice really sound like that?
Rated PG for mild language, for those of you dense enough to blindly play a video from me in front of children.
I really, really wanted to write a full on post about the weekend we went to Iain’s art show in Opelika’s Railyard, but if I waited until i had time, it would never get written. So, instead, i shall post the photos and be done with it. Iain is one of Todd’s best friends, and he’s a really great watercolorist. He and his wife, Noelle, live in Opelika, near Auburn. Pretty cool.
So, we went to Opelika, and we had lots of fun. Here’s the evidence. (And I have way more photos, for the Auburn peeps. If you want to see them, let me know and I’ll email you a link.)
Hoping to post some photos of our family road trip soon, whenever I get caught up in life.
Well, since discussing it with my brother-in-law, Lyle, I looked into the Dunstan Hall and Arthur’s time at Auburn a bit more. . .
Here is an Auburn Engineering magazine article with a mention and photo of Professor Dunstan:
Professor Dunstan and his class
and another:
I believe this is him in the doorway, back row, with the cute mustache, too.
And here:
So, there you go. . .
Found this interesting photo of my grandmother Smith’s Uncle, Arthur St. Charles Dunstan, in the Auburn archives.
He was a student at Auburn, when it was Alabama Polytechnic Institute (API), later became a professor of Engineering there, and then head of the Engineering department. There was a building there named after him, Dunstan Hall, for many years, but I believe they may have renamed it.
His brother, my great-grandfather, was John Harris Rowe Dunstan. He also attended Auburn. Arthur, and their mother, Medora Louis Hall Dunstan, are buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Auburn. It still blows my mind that the after party for my wedding was walking distance from the cemetery where my dear Grandma’s own Grandmother, whose Civil War stories of Fredericksburg were handed down in the family, is buried, and I never knew it until years later. From Fredericksburg my line went, through Lee and Chatham county NC, to St. Tammany Parish, LA, and Chattanooga, TN to my parents having me in Atlanta, and me meeting a boy from Auburn, and ending up in that cemetery where my Grandmother’s grandmother is buried.
Think I might go visit old Medora in a couple weeks. See how she’s doing.
My dear friends Matt and Shannon got married this past Saturday in Auburn. (Todd and Matt grew up together in Auburn.) The in-laws kept the spawn, so Todd and I had a whole weekend of fun, staying in a hotel and hanging out with friends by the pool. Much fun was had by all, and i think we are still recovering. (I know I am.)
We took less photos than we usually do at get togethers like this. I can only chalk it up to the heat and not wanting to carry anything around that I didn’t have to have on me. Also, it’s hard to hold a drink and take photos at the same time.
We did get some good ones, though.
Here is me with T at the Rehearsal at St. Dunstan’s. It was so freakin’ hot, I thought i would die.
Look! We’re sober!
Jess, Scott Henderson’s wife, and Matt’s mom, Fiona, whom i adore.
Erin, the sister of the bride and Maid of Honor, hammin’ it up at the Rehearsal dinner, which was at a nice restaurant called Hamilton’s. The food was great! It was just too hot to eat a ton of it, which we really paid for later.
Shannon, the Bride, looking not at all nervous, even though I know she was exhausted. But she never showed it.
Todd’s friends Tom and Brian were in town. They are always a blast to hang out with, although I was a little upset Brian didn’t bring Nikki. For those of you who went to HS with me, Brian started a job on Monday and he works at the same company as Brett Shell. Small world, huh?
Old friends, Scott and Ned, at the Rehearsal dinner. They grew up in Auburn with Todd, but I actually met them years before I met Todd, when they both went to school in Athens. How strange is that?
After the rehearsal dinner, we went to The Independent, which was pretty cool for an Auburn bar. They had a pool table. Adam kicked my ass in pool for a few hours, but all y’all know how i like to play games and drink beer, so i enjoyed it anyway. Then we played quarters at about 1 am. Yep. In a bar. I also enjoyed that, despite another ass-kicking.
Carlie and Brandon were there, too! I love them.
And then Ned drove me home (thanks again, Ned!), so Todd could hang out longer, and then my head kind of hurt Saturday morning. I know there is a correlation here somewhere, but I just can’t connect the dots.
Somehow, i worked through the lack of sleep and the pounding head, and then hit the pool with Todd and friends. Why does a pool feel so damn good when you have a hangover? The only thing ruining it was the presence of the most obnoxious Florida Gator fan i have ever met in my life.
Got dressed for the wedding, in my new red dress. I was having one of those self-defeating “hate my hair, hate my body days.” And then I got tons of compliments, which was nice and ironic, but really all i wanted to do was take that bitch off and get in an ice bath.
The wedding was at Greystone, which, you may remember is where Todd and I got hitched. And Ned and Vanessa. And Iain and Noelle. So, it was pretty cute that Shannon wanted the four couples to be included in a photo for the wedding photographs. I am looking forward to seeing that one.
This is Matt’s mom at the wedding. How sweet does she look?
So, the wedding was at five? And it was about 98 million degrees that day. (Okay, not really, but it was 96 when I sat down on my lawn chair before the ceremony started.) Everyone spent the whole wedding waving fans at each other, and as the alcohol started flowing, up each others’ dresses. People fought over the cool seats in the house, and women elbowed their way to claim a spot straddling the floor vents. I am not kidding when I say it was the hottest wedding I have ever been to, bar none. And I have been to a wedding on Hilton Head in July.
Here is Iain attempting to cool off pre-ceremony. How cute were the boys? They wore plaid ties, khakis, white button downs and chucks. Very cute.
I think Todd got this one right before the ceremony. I like the way they are looking up.
This is Shannon’s friend, John, who performed the ceremony. He did a stellar job, and looked damn good doing it. Loved the Truman Capote look. It’s also my favorite photo from the weekend.
I think this is about the point that we stopped taking photographs, by the way. I know, can you believe it? You can see the remainder of the photos on Dogwood Girl’s Flickr.
Shannon asked me to read in the wedding. I don’t know if it was the heat or too much fun the night before, or what, but somehow, the Officiant skipped right over my reading during the ceremony. I sat in the hot sun, and tried to figure out what I was supposed to do. Should I clear my throat loudly? Yell out during the ceremony? I finally decided that I should go with it and just let the ceremony go off seemingly without a hitch. And for the most part, very few folks noticed that I was on the wedding program, but did not read. Since Shannon might be disappointed that folks didn’t get to hear the reading, I am posting it here for all to see. This is an abridged version of a much longer children’s book. I just thought it was so very them, and Shannon did too. (I am guessing Matt never read it in the first place.)
Congratulations, Matt and Shannon. Best wishes for a long and joyful future together!
I Like You
by Sandol Stoddard WarburgI like you and I know why.
I like you because you are a good person to like.
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special
And you remember it a long, long time.
You say, Remember when you told me something special
And both of us rememberWhen I think something is important
you think it’s important too
When I say something funny, you laugh
I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too
I like you because you know where I’m ticklish
And you don’t tickle me there
except just a little tiny bit
sometimes
But if you do, then I know where to tickle you tooYou know how to be silly
That’s why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you
I like you because you know when it’s time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Too late, it’s a quarter past sillySometimes we don’t say a word
We snurkle under fences
We spy secret places
If I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off
You are one too
If I pretend I am drowning, you pretend you are saving me
If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag,
then you are getting ready to jumpThat’s because you really like me
You really like me, don’t you
And I really like you back
And you like me back and I like you back
And that’s the way we keep on going every dayAnd I like you because if we go away together
And if we are in Grand Central Station
And if I get lost
Then you are the one that is yelling for me
“Where are you?”
“Here I am”I like you because I don’t know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can’t remember when I didn’t like you
It must have been lonesome thenI like you because because because
I forget why I like you but I do
So many reasons
I don’t know why
I guess I don’t know why I really like you
Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like you because I love you.
When we were in Auburn over the holidays, Todd and I had drinks at our friends’ Iain and Noelle’s house. I love Noelle, because she is a crazy dog lady like myself (but with the added plus of having a husband who allows her more than one dog – they have three) and there are usually about five to ten dogs hanging out there on any given day. Also, they don’t care when I bring along the Q Man. I love that.
So, when Quint was a puppy, Iain’s son, Noah, couldn’t say Quint and instead called him “Squid.” And so the nickname stuck for the Stewart clan, and when Quint is at Iain’s house, he is Squid.
Iain is a very talented watercolorist. While we were there, Iain’s brother Matt showed me a watercolor that Iain had done of Matt and Shannon’s two dogs, Bodie and Omar. I LOVED it and was so jealous. I told Iain I wanted him to do one of Quint some day. Unbeknownst to me, Iain went back to his office and pulled up this picture of Quint on his computer:
And then, while I drank beer and petted dogs, and chatted with Noelle, Shannon, and Fiona while watching Dream Girls, Iain proceeded to sketch and paint Quint, in about 20 minutes. (Like i said, he is v. talented.) Check Squid out!
My dog Quint in a watercolor by Iain Stewart.
That is not a very good shot of the painting, and I did not have time to scan him in, but if you want to see a great scan of the Squid watercolor, and other works by the very talented Iain, go to Iain Stewart Watercolors website or Facebook page. Make sure to become a fan!
You will see that Iain only dabbles in dog portraiture, but is an amazing Landscape Watercolorist (I have one in my bedroom that he gave to us on our Wedding Day) and a talented Architectural Illustrator. In addition, he does a wonderful drunk Scot impersonation, and a damn funny r2d2.
It makes me feel a little like a wealthy Victorian lady to have a commissioned portrait of my favorite pet. I must go find my parasol and bonnet now.
So, here’s what we’ve been up to. . .
Christmas Eve, Rollie came down with quite an ear infection. Quint took good care of him.
We spent Christmas Eve at Leelee’s house. There was much cuteness of children and stuffing of our faces, and dogs running around, and Cecil drinking scotch. Todd and I brought the kids home afterwards and tucked them in, then readied for Santa Claus. Luckily, this year there was no Victorian dollhouse to put together. Which basically means we lay out the loot under the tree, stuff the stockings, and pour ourselves a well-earned nightcap. I usually watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve, but i am a good wife and I let Todd kill zombies instead. Oh, Holy Night. . . .
I played with my camera. I just love a Christmas tree in the dark.
Rollie got a Hot Wheels bike from Santa. I love that green color.
Tiller got a Hello Kitty bike. I wish it came in my size.
I love a Christmas tree in the dark.
I used to sit in the living room in Roswell, in the dark, and just look at the tree.
This is an ornament Vanessa gave me years ago. I love it, but it is heavy and i have to tie it down on the tree so that it doesn't fall.
This is an ornament my sister gave me. It looks like snow. I can't believe we haven't broken it yet.
The next morning, Tiller found the stockings and didn't even see her bike at first!
Tiller was beside herself. Pure joy.
Rollie didn't feel good and we could tell. He wasn't really amped up at all until he got Monster Jam tickets in his stocking. Santa is kind of an asshole, as he only left two tickets, so Tills and I am on our own that night, I guess. Sigh.
Todd and I drank coffee, cuddled, and untwisted a lot of twisty ties and rubber bands from cardboard.
That afternoon, Mom, Dad, Lisa, Mark, and Dash came over. We all opened gifts, drank wine, played toys with kids, and made a lot of noise.
Two generations. Not sure what Tills is doing here.
Rollie really didn't feel well. You can see him feigning excitement here.
Tiller decided to throw a tantrum during gift opening. Always fun to discipline your child in front of your parents.
These things just aren't that exciting. I just don't get it. Robotic hamsters?
Alex was a gift unto himself.
Birdie didn't really get the whole Christmas thing. He could have gotten a lump of coal in his stocking and he would still have this look on his face.
After the dishes were clean and dinner done and kids in bed, we finally go to relax.
So, let's talk gifts. My dad got me these. As far as gifts from Dads go, this is not bad. V. comfortable, not offensive to look at.
My sister got me these and also an awesome necklace. She buys me the best gifts. I also kind of like my camera skills on this one.
From my mom, who evidently still thinks i am six. Yes, i am a 37 year old with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer pjs. Note the Abominable Snowman.
These are the best. LOVE getting these from the kids. I see myself crying over them for years to come.
I have a thing for the Black Cat Fireworks logo. It cracks me up, always has. Todd finally got the hint and got me a Black Cat shirt! Rowr!
He also got me a thermometer. Lisa rolled her eyes that I would get excited over this, but I love getting stuff for my yard, and nature-type stuff.
So, i saw that Todd had put The Monsters of Templeton on his wish list. He noticed the same thing on my wish list. We both got one for Christmas. From each other. Much laughter ensued. I am thinking we maybe need to spend a little time apart, or by next year, we might be wearing matching Christmas outfits. On the plus side, we can have our own little book club. At least for one month.
Todd also got me the Merge Records book I've been wanting to read. Will probably start this one next. Yay! That cover photo makes my heart pogo.
The next morning, we got up early, kicked my parents out, and headed for Auburn.
While we were there, the kids got some time in on their new razors, and I had a few heart attacks.
We did some hugging.
And Tiller pitched another fit. . .
And then we hugged some more and rode the dinosaur at the park.
Then more hugs with Uncle Lyle . . .
And even more hugs with Lyle and Denise.
We had lots of fun, and my in-laws spoiled the kids, and I didn’t get one single picture of my niece, Luci. We left on Monday and came back to Atlanta. On the way, we decided to stop and get fireworks, which was funny, because I was wearing my new Black Cat shirt.
Kids with Todd at Black Cat Fireworks store.
Since then, we’ve been recovering from Christmas, putting away the loot, stuffing our faces with cookies and drinking wine. Yesterday, we felt we needed some fresh air and exercise, so we hiked up Stone Mountain with the kids. I had my doubts about whether they could make it, especially Tiller, but she didn’t lag at all. She picked her way up the mountain like a mountain goat. That’s her new nickname. The Mountain Goat. We didn’t have to help them at all, which as a parent, is nice.
Taking a rest on the way up.
Tiller looking stoic, while the boys cut up at the top.
I was kind of disappointed that no one had decorated this little tree behind us for Christmas. Also, please don't judge my fashion choices.
Todd had fun with perspective.
And they kids thought it was hysterical.
Rollie was rocking out, I guess. Not really sure, but he's a cutie.
One last shot overlooking downtown, before we head back down the trail. Tiller and I took off after this and kicked Todd and Rollie's asses. I'm just sayin.' You don't mess with The Mountain Goat.
I took some shots of Tills with the flags at the bottom, while we waited for the boys. Did I mention the Mountain Goat and her Mama beat them down the mountain? By many minutes? Girls rule, boys drool. (Tiller and I decided we wouldn't tell the boys that, though.)
All in all, we had a great Christmas vacation. Last night, I had dinner at Bistro VG with some friends from high school: Kevin Fagan and his fiance (she is awesome – they were in town from Richmond) and Jamie Kish and his wife, and Camille and Joe showed, too. Natalie didn’t show, which was disappointing. I ate a cheese tray and drank wine. Yum! The kids and todd went bowling today, and I am thinking about cooking dinner and building a fire tonight and perhaps playing some Beatles rock band. We shall see.
Them tomorrow, New Year’s Eve! We are having some friends over and their kids too. Should be interesting.
So, Todd didn’t cry after the game. I know I promised Iron Bowl, Part II, but I am all out of witty comments. Here is the abridged version:
We left the game, and “borrowed” a couple of cokes. We hitched a ride back to our car with Ned’s mom, Gwen. We parked at Todd’s old Jr. High and I got a good laugh out of him on his old stomping grounds. We went to Iain and Noelle’s to watch the second half. We went home and pigged out on Thanksgiving dinner and went to bed REALLY early. We got up the next day and went to the park with Todd’s dad, Todd’s brother, Wade, and our niece, Luci. We played. We left and went bowling. Todd won. The Auburn bowling alley is pretty darn good people-watching, too.
We went back over to Iain and Noelle’s to watch the Georgia/Georgia Tech game, and I came close to killing Matt, because he kept on switching over to LSU/Arkansas. There were eight people there, and ten dogs. yes, I said TEN. Quint came too. He was nervous, what with all the butts to sniff and nudge, and the fact that Iain was cooking ribs, and a couple of the dogs got into the grease under the grill, so they smelled like ribs, and a little bitch named Lela didn’t like him one bit, and kept growling at him. There was Lela and her brother, who was well-behaved and so i can’t remember his name, and T’s puppy, Coden, and the four of them finally settled down on the couch with Lela’s Daddy Matt and me. A brown dog love fest. There was also Casey, Sammers, and Ginger, along with Bodhi (spelling?) and Omar. Wait. Maybe that’s nine. Or I’m forgetting a dog. Oh, Butters from next door! Ten!
They all slept around and begged ribs, and at one point, I thought they were gonna eat T and Matt for sure.
All in all, v. fun. Then we got home and slept late, and there were no kids there when i got up, because they went to Sunday School with my in-laws. Then we ate Cracker Barrel after church (which we didn’t go to, but we met the kids and in-laws after) and then we sat in Thanksgiving traffic on the way back to Atlanta.
(Mouse over a photo for the caption.)
And other assorted Auburn Thanksgiving happenings.
Todd’s dad gave us his tickets to the Auburn/Alabama game, and they watched the children for us to boot. I had tailgated before, but had not actually been in the stadium for a game. The hate was palpable. Beforehand was stellar people-watching, as usual.
These Auburn fans named their children following the Alabama Scotch tradition. I know Todd was hoping they were Bama fans, but nope! AU.
Possibly my favorite moment of the day was cutting through a tunnel of a building on campus and getting caught behind the AU marching band warming up.
We waited behind them as they warmed up, then slowly followed them out of the tunnel as they played.
It is not very often that you have a marching band to lead you in. The sun glinting off Tubas and drums was kinda magical.
Scarlett and her cousin, Thomas. . .
Ned and Nessie
Brandon and Carlie . . .
And Ned's brother Chris set me up with a Bloody Mary. And the Anne was happy.
My partners-in-crime for the Tiger Walk - Brandon, Carlie, and Vanessa. None of them had ever seen it either!
Then we realized we were right next to the Tiger Walk, so I went to check it out for people-watching research. It was well worth it.
Oh, the people-watching. I adore stupid football shirts like this one.
Did i mention it was a perfect sunny day? Not hot OR cold?
Yep, more dumb shirtage. It was like shootin' fish in a barrel.
Well, good day to YOU, sir!
I don't know what you call these things, but I want a Georgia one, for when I am trying to get the troops at home to clean house.
I wonder what possesses a man to get up in the morning and put this on his head.
Or a perfectly good, self-respecting souther woman to wear pants like these?
I mean, come on, ladies. You look like couches.
I can't say anything snarky about this little girl, because she was just as cute as can be.
My old friend Brett came in town for the iron bowl and brought his girlfriend. They live in Seattle. It was fun to see her in his native habitat.
Lucy gets her picture made with this interesting Tiger setup. It was her first SEC game, and boy did she pick the right one.
Interesting setup here. Todd wouldn't let me go sit down with these kids.
This just cracked me up.
This is Todd's good friend Chuck's sister. Chuck is the friend that couldn't make it to their 20th reunion, so I pretended to be him after his sex change and caused much confusion on the part of former classmates. I highly recommend adopting a fake persona when attending a spouse's reunion. Lying makes it more fun. Corey and I talked about my crush on her sister-in-law.
We saw Todd's friend Jared and his son, Jack.
Todd and Inflatable Aubie
Even the program guys get into the spirit.
This woman claimed to be wearing Auburn panties, but I don't buy it. Blingy, too! These getups just slay me.
We ran into Adria and Chris on the way in.
I chatted with this woman in the tunnels to our seats. She was nice, and I respect her fashion choices.
There was an eagle on the sidelines. Once again, i got to the stadium too late to see the damn eagle fly. I am starting to doubt that it really does fly.
Todd sitting next to his Bama buddy for the game.
Auburn and Alabama, side by side. I am not kidding - the hatred is palpable in this stadium.
I love catching fans in the throes of anger, despair, or disgust.
He's back! They guy from the UGA game! Todd and i love him.
You know that your marital ties have brought you down to inappropriate depths when you go to an Auburn game and recognize the fans.
First half was good. Then we left (I had enough of the mouthbreather behind me, and of being packed in like sardines.) Second half? Not so good.
To be continued. . . And you know you have to read it, because it is just like you were there, and you can almost smell the November sunshine. Also, the suspense is killing you. Did Todd cry when they game was over?