...is too much. Let me sum up.
This has really been a fabulous trip, and a wonderful Christmas.
We left for Georgia on December 18th, right before the crazy snowstorm started in Michigan, and got to Augusta, where bangping's brother and sister-in-law live, on the 19th. They are awesome. I finished my Christmas shopping, ate wonderful Indian food, and spent a lot of time laughing my ASS off. By Sunday the 21st, we were on our way to bangping's parents' house in far far southwest Georgia--like, 15 minutes from the Florida state line. I really like her folks. bangping's family is a family of storytellers, particularly tall tales, exaggerated stories, and anything that can be made funny--or maybe I should just state that anything CAN be made funny, if you tell it right. They tell it right.
We did Christmas early, and I've never seen a family have so much fun with presents: it's all about how you wrap, what order things are opened in, and setting up elaborate practical jokes. I love it! I learned that I've been officially adopted into the family, as I got underwear this year along with my other gifts. :) However--and this floored me--I also got a stand mixer from Nan's parents. It is beautiful and I can't wait to get home and play with it!
Things were pretty laid back most of the week. Lots of eating, sitting around visiting. And then more eating. I got a fair amount of work done--at least for one job. Christmas Eve day we went to Tallahassee where I actually went shopping in a clothes store and bought clothes for myself, something I haven't done in quite possibly years since I do most of my clothes shopping online. Yay Catherine's!
Christmas Day, bangping went four-wheeling in the woods with Santa Claus (no, really!) while I stayed around home and actually worked some, since we'd already had Christmas and Christmas dinner a few days earlier. Then yesterday we left Georgia, and came to Nashville.
For those who don't know, I went to college in Nashville (Lipscomb University) right after high school. Spent two years there, then got married and ended up dropping out of school. I hadn't been back to campus since about 1993. I really wanted a chance to visit the place again, so we stopped here last night and spent the day here.
Best. Day. Ever.
After spending ten days traveling with each other, bangping and I both needed some alone time, and some post-family decompression time. So after breakfast this morning, she stayed around the hotel (which is a fabulous, luxurious place, particularly for the price we're paying) and I went snooping around my old haunts. I spent about an hour just walking around Lipscomb's campus, nearly empty due to the holiday. I'm amazed at how much has changed, but more amazed at how much has stayed the same. Mostly, I'm amazed at how much I've changed.
Across from campus now is one of the most awesome used bookstores I've ever seen. Seriously: Rhino Books. If you're ever in Nashville, look it up. I spent ages browsing through there, and came away with some stuff to read on the return trip, and two beautiful Gourmet cookbooks from the 60s. (Confidential to custardfairy: there are color photographs. You must see these books.)
Basically, I puttered around my old hangouts, and found potential new ones. Finally I came back to the hotel, picked up bangping (who had spent the morning enjoying the hotel's indoor pool and hot tub) and we went to lunch... and wound up BACK at Rhino Books, where she proceeded to buy the entire store. ;)
Funny thing, I struck up a conversation with a woman there who graduated from Lipscomb the semester before I enrolled, and we talked for nearly a half an hour about people we both knew. It was very neat. I ended up giving her my email address and then (because she asked) my cell phone number. I don't expect her to call, but who knows?
Finally, dinner was Indian again--we chanced upon an absolutely wonderful place just off Vanderbilt University's campus. I am happily stuffed with tandoori chicken.
Between the walking and the emotional highs and the more walking, I am absolutely endorphin-filled and very very tired. It's been a perfect ending to a very nice trip. I think I'm ready for the car ride home tomorrow.
Yay, home!
We left for Georgia on December 18th, right before the crazy snowstorm started in Michigan, and got to Augusta, where bangping's brother and sister-in-law live, on the 19th. They are awesome. I finished my Christmas shopping, ate wonderful Indian food, and spent a lot of time laughing my ASS off. By Sunday the 21st, we were on our way to bangping's parents' house in far far southwest Georgia--like, 15 minutes from the Florida state line. I really like her folks. bangping's family is a family of storytellers, particularly tall tales, exaggerated stories, and anything that can be made funny--or maybe I should just state that anything CAN be made funny, if you tell it right. They tell it right.
We did Christmas early, and I've never seen a family have so much fun with presents: it's all about how you wrap, what order things are opened in, and setting up elaborate practical jokes. I love it! I learned that I've been officially adopted into the family, as I got underwear this year along with my other gifts. :) However--and this floored me--I also got a stand mixer from Nan's parents. It is beautiful and I can't wait to get home and play with it!
Things were pretty laid back most of the week. Lots of eating, sitting around visiting. And then more eating. I got a fair amount of work done--at least for one job. Christmas Eve day we went to Tallahassee where I actually went shopping in a clothes store and bought clothes for myself, something I haven't done in quite possibly years since I do most of my clothes shopping online. Yay Catherine's!
Christmas Day, bangping went four-wheeling in the woods with Santa Claus (no, really!) while I stayed around home and actually worked some, since we'd already had Christmas and Christmas dinner a few days earlier. Then yesterday we left Georgia, and came to Nashville.
For those who don't know, I went to college in Nashville (Lipscomb University) right after high school. Spent two years there, then got married and ended up dropping out of school. I hadn't been back to campus since about 1993. I really wanted a chance to visit the place again, so we stopped here last night and spent the day here.
Best. Day. Ever.
After spending ten days traveling with each other, bangping and I both needed some alone time, and some post-family decompression time. So after breakfast this morning, she stayed around the hotel (which is a fabulous, luxurious place, particularly for the price we're paying) and I went snooping around my old haunts. I spent about an hour just walking around Lipscomb's campus, nearly empty due to the holiday. I'm amazed at how much has changed, but more amazed at how much has stayed the same. Mostly, I'm amazed at how much I've changed.
Across from campus now is one of the most awesome used bookstores I've ever seen. Seriously: Rhino Books. If you're ever in Nashville, look it up. I spent ages browsing through there, and came away with some stuff to read on the return trip, and two beautiful Gourmet cookbooks from the 60s. (Confidential to custardfairy: there are color photographs. You must see these books.)
Basically, I puttered around my old hangouts, and found potential new ones. Finally I came back to the hotel, picked up bangping (who had spent the morning enjoying the hotel's indoor pool and hot tub) and we went to lunch... and wound up BACK at Rhino Books, where she proceeded to buy the entire store. ;)
Funny thing, I struck up a conversation with a woman there who graduated from Lipscomb the semester before I enrolled, and we talked for nearly a half an hour about people we both knew. It was very neat. I ended up giving her my email address and then (because she asked) my cell phone number. I don't expect her to call, but who knows?
Finally, dinner was Indian again--we chanced upon an absolutely wonderful place just off Vanderbilt University's campus. I am happily stuffed with tandoori chicken.
Between the walking and the emotional highs and the more walking, I am absolutely endorphin-filled and very very tired. It's been a perfect ending to a very nice trip. I think I'm ready for the car ride home tomorrow.
Yay, home!