Rainy Day at BATL

So it's storming up here at Lake Burton... the thunder is echoing off the mountains and rolling along the lake onto the back porch where we are sitting in awe of the misty fog that is world around us. It's amazing. We claimed that there is never a time that Lake Burton isn't beautiful. I wish I brought my card reader so you all could see this picture I tried to describe. This picture I found on Google Images doesn't do it justice.

No boat outing today. But here are some pics from last year's BATL...


Marie and Moma soaking up some rays on the beautiful day last year.




This is the new clubhouse that we're going to eat at tonight (THANKS TOM DOWNS!) It's called Waterfall and one day there will be a wedding there for Annie on top of that beautiful mountain...


BATL 2008 Roster (with nicknames)
Pam Downs (Pamela S. Downs Proprietor)
Beth Drew (Happy)
Caroline Bedingfield (Boy Scout) or (No, that's a frisbee)
Tatum Downs (T-Diddy)
Amy Rambo (Angel)
Heather Ligler (International Bad H)
Sally Downs (Salita-when she turns 21 Mojita)
Emily Smith (Em-Kat)
Ashly Ward (Helen Cellar)
Marie Claire (I'll be fashionably late MC) or her favorite (Prune)
Katie Bedingfield (B)

My B

Aunt Jennie "tagged" me.

Sorry Jen!!!

Below is my response - skip the first few lines. :)

Why, thanks for asking! ...not

So I'm sitting here having a pity party for myself because no one "tagged" me about the 10 random things.
I'll pretend like you did...

Oh - 10 random things about me you ask?
Well let me think.

1) I played the snare drum for two years in the Middle School band.

2) I crave a roll of sweetarts just about every day.

3) When I was little, instead of wanting to play "house" like the normal little girls, I wanted to play "office".
I would turn over boxes and use all the desk supplies I could sneak out of dads home office when he was on the phone.

4) I really hate mushrooms - everything about them. The taste, the texture. I don't know how someone could put something so repulsive in ther mouth, let alone CHOOSE them to eat for a meal.

5) About 70% of the time I drive with my knee.

6) I sat right behind the drummer at a U2 concert a couple years ago. (he's no Carter Beauford, but it was amazing none the less) I didn't get Bono's autograph. But one time I did get James Taylors back-up singer "Arnold's" autograph. And I got the set list from that concert.

7) I really like country music. This seems to be really out of place after that last statement... but I can't help it.
I just do - it's so simple and sweet.

8) If I could do anything I wanted to on Saturday I think on of the top things on my list would be four-wheeling.
Dad took me to Vegas for my 21st birthday last year and we went four-wheeling in the desert... SO FUN.

9) I'm dating a former high school teacher of mine... most likely the weirdest thing about me.
Brett and I have been dating for a year since the 15th.

10) I know how to knit.

Now I want to hear from Amy F, Chip and Bekah.

Haiku of Thanks

dirty laundry lots
can not even see my floor
thanks for moma b

Every day is Valentine's Day!

... when you watch this video:



Or if you are Bekah and John Mark...
Which reminds me - while you're in YouTube go to their video page and watch the {HILARIOUS} videos of our weekend 'o fun.

Happy Valentine's Y'all!

Here I am,

sitting in class, not studying for the test I have to take in eight minutes. I'm not worried. It's just Tax Accounting. That's what we have calculators for, right?

I wanted to tell you all something mildly hilarious that happend in class Tuesday...

After class was over, this boy from the other side of the room approached me and said, "You shop at Target a lot don't you?

I replied, "Yes, just about every single day."

He said, "I work in the women's clothing department and figured you did..."

What can I say?
I'm embarrassed.
I'm proud.
I'm a little creeped out of his awareness of what I am wearing every day...

White New Years

So some of you know I headed out to Washington State the day after Christmas to see Brett and meet is family. They live in Bellevue - right outside Seattle. (it's like Marietta to Atlanta)
It's beautiful here! Floating bridges everywhere and evergreen trees and mountains in the distance. He drug (dragged?) me around the city on Thursday - we went on top of the space needle and all around the city. We've been to several dinner parties with his old high school friends and their wives/kids and some family get-togethers. I feel like I've met the entire state! Brett came down with something a few days ago. Most likely a virus of some sort. We laid on the couch all day Saturday and most of Sunday. It was awesome. (not that he is sick, but the forcing us to relax part) Sunday(yesterday) we drove down with his parents and another couple to their cabin on the Hood Canal. I am upstairs in the living room right now looking out the huge windows at the Olympic Mountains.
They look a lot like this...


Except more snow-covered.
Beautiful place. Right on the water. And there's about 2-inches of snow on the ground.
Mom has made me swear I would never move here. I swear. But it's been a great trip and I look forward to coming back here soon.

Anyway, lots of pictures and video footage of our trip that I'm sure (?) I will consider sharing at a later date.

Love to everyone back home and Happy New Year!