Once Upon A Plan

New Blog Beginning

2008-05-03T18:06:00.001-07:00

We now have our new blog up and updated......visit us to keep updated! (Be sure to update your bookmark!!)

http://hereincola.blogspot.com

For the Moment....

2008-04-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

Some of you I have talked to and some I haven't yet, but for now, I am going to suspend this blog. I will restart a new one soon because I know family and friends want to keep up with the boys. Watch for the posting on it when I get it set up.

Till then..........

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...." ~Closing Time, Semisonic.

Friday Feast #187

2008-04-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
Name a color you find soothing. lavender

Soup
Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.

I missed a turn and almost ran over a funeral home sign.

Salad
What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?

I don't have one favorite thing ---

Main Course
Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see? Easy....U2 or Aerosmith

Dessert
What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc.)? its a tie --- e, l, n

Playing Catch Up....

2008-04-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

A few people have e-mailed asking if everything is ok since I haven't posted in a while, and, yes, we're all fine --- it has just been incredibly busy lately!

But here is a little news of what is going on around here:

* Clay was accepted into TWO magnet programs for next year. One -- Horizon -- is an extremely competitive academic magnet. They choose 40 students per year and Clay was selected from about 100 applications. The second one -- CavPlex -- is a media based program that he will learn all about print, visual and production media over the four years. Of course, he is very excited!
*Ron got a "promotion" last week -- he's now reporting directly to the CIO of the company. More work for him, I'm sure! :)

Otherwise, its just life as usual. Ron and I are going to the beach next weekend for a Jaycees convention, Clay is camping and then heading to an OA event the following weekend and Ron and I are joining friends for the Kenny Chesney concert in two weeks. Can't wait for that!

And, not to leave Ben out, he's doing well. The child loves, loves, loves music and The Beatles anymore. He's excited that Grammie is coming on Friday and they are going to use our museum and zoo memberships for some fun. And, he is SO excited about seeing Aunt Marti, Aunt Kim, Uncle Leonard and Zach next weekend at the PC spring game.

I'll try to be a little better about updating......M.

Friday Feast #186

2008-04-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it. ?????

Soup
Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice. Keifer Sutherland!!!!!

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?1....I practically LIVE out of my car

Main Course
How do you feel about poetry? LOVE IT!! Reading and writing....love both!

Dessert
What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of? Steph and Rick last night at Yo Burrito is the last picture I took, the last picture on my camera is one of me and Steph that Rick took.....

The Cup

2008-03-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

We can add to our list of things we have now done (and will do again!)....The Carolina Cup! We got up early this morning and finished packing the car with tables, tents, chairs, coolers, etc. and headed down to Camden for the annual steeplechase event.

When we first got there it was warm and windy, but Ron and I headed straight to College Park and the Vineyard Vines tent. I was hoping for a tee-shirt, which I didn't get, but we did get a whale hat and key chains. Next year, I know to get over there earlier. And, we stopped by the Lilly Pulitzer table where they were giving away cute little photo albums. We got back to our spot, set up shop and then walked over to Elizabeth's where she, Brett, Brian, and Heather were based. We were waiting on Paula, Peggy, Leslie and Meredith --- who got there as the races were starting due to traffic. Over the next few hours though we saw a LOT of people, and a few horses!

The weather deteriorated as the day went on into windy and COLD. I was freezing in my sundress. After a couple of races I decided to walk back over to College Park where some of the Phi Mu's were tailgating. I went in between races while the gates were open and no sooner than I got there did the bottom fall out of the sky. It poured! I happened to find one of the girls and I stayed under the tent she was at for a while, before trying to head back --- only to find the gates were closed as a race was about to start. A very nice guy shared his umbrella while we waited and by the time I got back to our car it had all but stopped raining. Just my luck, I guess! Of course, almost everyone had packed up and traffic was a nightmare, so Ron, Paula, Leslie and I sat in the car with the heat on while it cleared out.

We saw some funny, absurd and interesting sites at the Cup. It was a people watcher's dream!

Despite the weather, it was a really fun time with friends and I think we are all looking forward to next year....with warmer weather.

me and Rhe

my Vineyard Vines whale hat!

Ron FINALLY let me get him a birthday/Christmas/Valentine's gift --- a tent!

after the rain...Paula, me and Leslie

Indian Culture

2008-03-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Last night Ron and I joined some friends from Jaycees for "A Night in India". We ate some yummy Indian food (which neither of us had ever tried before) and then viewed a slide show about India and learned all about the country from Singe (I think that is spelled correctly)and her family, a friend of Sheila's who moved to the US a few years ago. At most points we had no idea what exactly we were eating, but the "chicken 65" was really good and the dessert -- a flowery flavored sorbet -- was great!

It was definitely something different and we learned a lot, too. Singe is from the southern part of India and she was able to share many of the customs, historical facts and ways of life. I was most interested to learn that she and her family are all Christians and not Hindu or Buddhist....that really surprised us all. She and her husband, Jobe, were married in an arranged marriage (she met him only a month or so before the wedding), yet she told of how her sister wanted to marry a man who was not "chosen" for her. The father sent the man off to complete "tasks" before he would allow the marriage. One of those was that he must convert from Hinduism to Christianity. The man met all of their father's requirements over time and is now married to her sister. It was all very interesting and the family was very sweet. I would love to visit India someday and see, in person, the sights we viewed on the screen.

Friday Feast #185

2008-03-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

Appetizer:

What does the color dark green make you think of? a Woolrich sweater that I have had forever...time to retire, I think.

Soup

How many cousins do you have? 7

Salad

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you? 8, I think we had this one a while back??

Main Course

Name something that is truly free. Air.

Dessert

Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence. Stay put right in new grass. (My creativity is REALLY lacking today)

The Bunco Cup!

2008-03-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

In keeping with the upcoming Carolina Cup, our monthly Bunco theme was aptly dubbed the "Bunco Cup". We dressed up and wore our hats and thoroughly enjoyed Stephanie's great hostessing....she went all out with decorations, "tickets" (even having Rick and Ron direct parking and collect $$/give out tickets), dressing up poor Rosemary like a jockey and cup-themed foods. Best of all was "THE punch", courtesy of Rick's mom!

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Spring Has Arrived!

2008-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

I haven't really posted in a while about what we have been up to simply because we haven't been up to much at all! I got sick right after St. Pat's and I'm just now starting to feel better. The doctor said a bad, bad case of bronchitis, but Ron and I lean towards maybe a case of walking pneumonia. And, speaking of Ron, his allergies have gone haywire. We didnt' think they could ever be worse than in the Upstate, but, well, we moved here......

Ben has been playing his Wii like crazy. In place of the Easter bunny this year, he opted for a Wii sports pack. Clay is still learning his guitar. He's doing really great -- writing his own songs as well as learning the songs he loves. He bought a second guitar and an amp a few weeks ago at a pawn shop. He also won the "tomahawk throwing contest" at OA a few weekends ago which means he'll be representing his lodge at the Dixie in April. Clay did transfer to a new scout troop. This one is a little less "high adventure" and he had a good friend from school there. We've been pleased with the leadership. Clay's "bunny" gift is a camping trip with the troop in a few weeks. We also find out next week which magnet program(s) Clay got into for next year and from there we'll decide if we're staying out in this area or moving over the summer.

Not to be left out, Maggie is still being the family baby! She loves to watch the birds outside our patio door.

The boys and I are on spring break this week and taking it easy. Last night was Bunco (more to post on that later) and tomorrow night Ron and I are going to an Indian restaurant with our Jaycees friends. Then, Saturday is the BIG day -- the Carolina Cup! I haven't been to a horse race in a LONG time (Clay was a baby the last time) and I can't wait.

I can't believe that it is almost April! Wow! Time sure has flown....it seems like just yesterday that I was posting about Christmas. Hard to belive that it soon will be summer! :)

the new guitar

Ben thinks Clay is a rock star or something.....

tomahawk practice

the scoutmaster let Ben give it a try, too

Friday Feast #184

2008-03-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

Appetizer:
Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city? CITY.....just in case let me repeat it again....CITY!!!

Soup:
Who is the cutest kid you know? My own, of course! (just check out the sidebar picture if you don't believe me!)

Salad:
Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________.

I couldn't believe it when I heard the police cars in Five Points bellowing, "Please take sheleter immediately" at St. Pat's. (It was quite surreal)

Main Course
If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise? I don't have an answer for this one...

Dessert
What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis? none really. I occasionally take a multi-vitamin, but not on a regular basis at all.

I Need an Apple!

2008-03-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

I used to eat at least two apples a day --- one at breakfast and one at lunch. Somedays, more. I quit a few weeks ago, not out of any particular reason.

And, wouldn't you know, no apple a day to keep the doctor away, so his office is where I found myself this afternoon.

Thankfully, it is not the flu.....but it is bronchitis. I'm now on five medicines to counteract my lack of apples! You can guess what I'll be putting back in my lunchbox starting tomorrow!

St. Pat's and Tornados!

2008-03-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! Ron's mother came down Friday evening to pick up Ben for the weekend. He hadn't been able to celebrate his brithday with her and Grandpa yet. And, Clay was off to Barstow for an OA weekend. While she was here, we went out to Sandhill for some shopping and then I went downtown after they left to take Ron dinner. Remember the big project that ate up all those weekends? Well, after at trip to Nashville to visit the vendor last week they were sure it would happne on Friday night. Ron got home at 6 AM! He was exhausted and we had planned to meet up with friends for the St. Patrick's Day celebration. We chose to sleep in and go down a little later. In the process I kept complaining that I had a scratchy throat.

We met up with Aimee and Marley and headed to Delaneys for lunch and ended up spending the rest of the day there because of the weather. I had planned to go meet my friend Stephanie to see Edwin McCain and she texted that it was cancelled due to tornado warnings! It was crazy! Apparently it never got bad downtown, but out where we are several friends have told us it was really nasty. Quite the experience for our first St. Patrick's Day in Columbia!

We thought we had gone all out buying beads and buttons and green jewelry, but some of the people were a HOOT!! Like the guy above who was completely decked out in his leprechaun suit. Some people had their hair dyed green, and it was GREEN, GREEN everywhere you looked!

Remember the scratchy throat? Well, I've spent the whole day laying around due to a sore throat and fever. YUCK! Ron has been taking great care of me bringing medicine and picking up so that I can rest. If I don't feel better tomorrow, I'll go to the dr.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Friday Feast #183

2008-03-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting? 7...its not too bad

Soup
Do you prefer baths or showers? baths

Salad
What was the last bad movie you watched? Ha! I can't even remember the name of it, but it was one of those parody movies --- this one parodied football movies

Main Course
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life. E-mail....it affects my life by requiring me to check it 500 times a day and I'm not happy when I don't have new e-mails (non-junk e-mails!) in my inbox!

Dessert
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to? no one particular instrument....I enjoy a guitar and piano

We Got Our Glasses....Again

2008-03-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

If you remember back at Christmas, we were all excited about getting the Flying Saucer Christmas '07 glasses, well, last night was St. Patrick's Day glass-nite. After the Jaycees membership social at Wild Wings about 15 of us headed over to Flying Saucer to get glasses...and we almost literally got the very last ones they had! (They always go on sale at 7 and they were sold out by 8 last night.) These are really cool, too, just like the Christmas glasses. And, no, we don't use them...these are totally for collecting at our house.

Elizabeth and I show off our glasses!

We even wear our sunglasses at night! Haha! Rhea, Ben and I just all happened to still have them on us and thought this would make a great picture!

This is too funny because Ron and Brett were actually talking to each other....they were inputing their numbers into contacts....

St. Pat's Kick Off

2008-03-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

Even though the big party is still a week away, 5 Points had a "kick off" tonight for St. Patrick's Day. After dinner, again this week, at the Salty Nut, we walked over to the fountain to find out about the dyeing of the fountain, get beads and buttons, Ben had green cookies and popcorn and meet Logan, the Leprachaun.

We had a half hour before the dyeing so we walked down the street to a few shops (bought a cup at the Greek Store and a great new blouse to wear for St. Pat's at Wish). Ron used the time to pass out some of the 100s of "St. Patrick's Day" cups from Jaycees. He had a blast giving them away and making people smile. I think he gave away one whole case! (We still have a few more cases in the car for next weekend.)

At 6:00 we headed back to the fountain, where a bag pipe band was performing as the kids dyed the fountain GREEN!! After a walk down to "Yappy Hour" (even though Maggie was at home we couldn't miss a trip to 3 Dog Bakery) for Boston Terrier Creme Pies. The owner even sent Maggie a shamrock cookie, which thrilled the Maggie-dog!

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Friday Feast #182

2008-03-07T04:40:00.001-08:00

Appetizer:
If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be?
Jennifer Aniston...then I could know the REAL story behind the Brad-Jennifer-Angelina soap opera

Soup:
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone? 1...I really don't like talking on the phone at all....I prefer e-mail

Salad:
Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to). Palmetto Health Foundation - Children's Hospital

Main Course:
What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month? grapes

Dessert
Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year? Not officially, I had something with flu like symptoms and was real sick back in October, but I don't know for sure that it was the flu

Happy Birthday, Uncle Ryan!

2008-03-06T06:28:00.000-08:00

We hope your day is great!

Love,

Ron, Melanie, Clay, Ben and Maggie

Celebrating Phi Mu!

2008-03-05T17:25:00.000-08:00

As I posted yesterday it was Phi Mu's Founders Day. To celebrate, nine members of our alumnae chapter volunteered for the Children's Hospital Radiothon. We worked the phone bank and had a great time. The phones were BUSY (thank goodness) and we were on the news! :)

This was by far the most exciting day and hours of Radiothon. The media was there, many of the kids serviced from the hospital and we were able to be there when the final amount pledged was announced. Last year $180,000 was raised and this year it was topped with over $203,000!!!! Amazing!!

I spent most of my time calling and verifying pledges versus taking calls, but I did get to answer a few. The best part was talking to people who have children, grandchildren, church friends or neighbors who were serviced by the Children's hospital and meeting some of the kids --- like the one little boy who came with his mom to make a donation and has been in remission from cancer for two years. I am so glad that we could be a part of making a difference in the lives of children and their families.

After the totals announcement, seven of us headed to Za's to celebrate over dinner!
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Happy Founder's Day, Phi Mu!

2008-03-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

Today, Phi Mu is 156 years old! I can't wait to celebrate later this afternoon with other local sisters. But, in the meantime, almost 15 years after I was initiated, I still try to live my life by these beautiful words that, together with our ritual, bind Phi Mu's all over the world..

THE CREED OF PHI MU

To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand.

To think of God as a protector and guide of us all.

To keep forever sacred the memory of those we have loved and lost.

To be to others what we would they would be to us.

To keep our lives gentle, merciful and just,

Thus being true to the womanhood of love.
To walk in the way of honor, guarding the purity of our thoughts and deeds.

Being steadfast in every duty small or large.

Believing that our given word is binding.

Striving to esteem the inner man above culture, wealth or pedigree.

Being honorable, courteous, tender, Thus being true to the womanhood of honor.
To serve in the light of truth avoiding egotism, narrowness, and scorn.

To give freely of our sympathies.

To reverence God as our Maker, striving to serve Him in all things.

To minister to the needy and unfortunate.

To practice day by day love, honor, truth.

Thus keeping true to the meaning, spirit and reality of Phi Mu.

What a Sunday!

2008-03-02T17:24:00.001-08:00

We were up early again this morning. Okay, not as early as yesterday, but early for us. My friend, Elizabeth, invited us to visit her church and we got up for breakfast and to pick up some things at Walgreens before meeting her. We LOVED the church and can't wait to visit again.

After service we hurried to drop off the boys and get dowtown to the Heart Center to join the Jaycees to work on the B106.7 Radiothon for Children's Hospital (I'll be back on Tuesday night and if we don't get any calls, I may be calling YOU!) We were able to stay there for about two hours before leaving to meet the JWC girls (and a couple of other hubbies) and the kids from the shelter for a "behind the scenes" tour of the State House. One of our provisionals, Michele, has a husband who works at the state house and he arranged for us to not only see the "usual" tour, but also to visit the basement (which is almost entirely granite and yes there are some tunnels, but not the rumored "escape" tunnels) and the dome(s). I chickened out of going all the way to the top of the dome as the heights got to me about halfway. Ron and whole bunch of others, though, went ALL the way. He was so excited as we were pulling off of Main St. to point to the tip-top of the State House and say, "I was up there!". It was an AWESOME experience to see parts of the building that most people don't get to, hear the history and workings of the facility.

The best joke was that in one room there was a hatch to an underground area and you have to be put in and lifted out by harness because of potential dangerous gas that Jack Bauer wouldn't need a harness and he would make through the gas to the bad guys hiding underneath to save the building. After that we started making JB jokes as the facility guy pointed out safety features.

Another really cool thing was the "moat" that surrounds the building and the earthquake prevention features that have been put in. Completely fascinating!

I will add more pictures later....my friend Paula took some GREAT ones and when I get those, I'll share them, too (especially the one of us in the "dome").

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Early Satuday Morning

2008-03-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

I did something for the first time today. I watched the sun come up over the city from the zoo. Ron and I got up at 5:30 (AM..in case you were wondering)to get ready and be at the zoo by 6:40 to volunteer with the Jaycees at the March for Meals 5k. It was great to see everyone and very interesting to watch the race dynamics -- the serious runners to the strollers, those with wheels and those with feet.

I was at the beginning and the end of the race in the parking lot, while Ron was inside the zoo. We were there just to make sure folks stayed on the running path. Afterwards we met up with some of our old and new Jaycees friends to chat for a while before heading over to Main St. for breakfast at Chic-fil-A and a quick walk through the "Excavating Eygpt" exhibit at the Art Museum. It was a great exhibit and I can't wait to take the boys back to see it. Ron and I then came home and took a LONG nap!

(in the photo from L to R: Elizabeth (with Ron hiding behind her), Me, Sheila, Randy, Ben, Hailey, John and Ryan)

How Did You Spend Your Leap Day?

2008-02-29T16:36:00.000-08:00

That seemed to be the question of the day on the Internet, TV and radio. Most of my "leap day" was spent just like always.....at school (though we did go to Young Chef's Academy for a field trip and that was different and fun). After school was a different story.......

Ron and I are volunteering at the "March for Meals" 5K tomorrow morning (we have to be AT the zoo by 6:40 AM...CRINGE) with Jaycees. I needed to pick up our tee shirts so we wouldn't have to change when we got there in the morning and so after getting Clay from school, it was very nice outside, the boys and I decided to go on and utilize our membership by spending an hour or so at the zoo before picking up the shirts and meeting Ron for dinner at the Salty Nut.

We had a really good time. Their were way more people than we anticipated (January and February are free on Fridays for Richland and Lexington residents. I'm guessing that explains it), but most of the animals were in rare form. The flamingos were hilarious...they were "talking" and stretching their necks. We saw the lemurs for the first time. Not sure how we missed those. And, then we got to see the new baby koala....it is SO cute!! Maybe they all new today was "leap day" and they were taking advantage of it!

We go to the zoo quite a bit, most definitely getting our money's worth from the membership. And, I have taken hundreds of pictures, but I still always take my camera and take more. It seems that every time we go, there is something new to document.

I'm sure the zoo won't be nearly as great at the crack of dawn in the morning so I am glad the boys and I enjoyed it this afternoon! :)
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PJ Party Bunco!

2008-02-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

It has been such a busy week that I am just now getting to blog about our second Bunco for our newly named Bunco Babes' group on Tuesday night.

Anaya hostessed at her house and chose a pj party theme. It was lots of fun to go out and get new jammies just for this and then hang out with a bunch of my favorite girls to play Bunco. As usual, we had a GREAT time! I am already ready for next month's Bunco CUP themed night (in honor of the Carolina Cup that following Saturday...which I am also VERY ready for!)

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Friday Feast #181

2008-02-29T05:10:00.000-08:00

Appetizer:
Who was the last person you hugged? Ron, first thing this morninig

Soup:
Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us. Oh yeah, this is something I am not good at passing out tips on...my best advice, if you don't want to wash your hair, pull it up first thing in the morning with a clip and then shake it out....it falls pretty well.

Salad:
What does the color yellow make you think of? the sun (real creative, I know...its early)

Main Course:
If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around? cities and architecture....I love unique settings

Dessert:
What was the longest book you ever read? probably, Gone with the Wind or Beach Music by Pat Conroy...right off I'm not sure how many pages are in each, but they are both pretty long. (And, both are WONDERFUL!)