Monell's

I really should have taken pictures of our experience at Monell's.  I was too excited about eating there, that I wasn't thinking straight. :)  At Monell's, you get a truly Southern eating experience.  When you arrive, they seat you at a big table with other people and the server brings out all the dishes and everyone just takes what they want and then passes to their left.  You can eat as much as you want, and they'll bring out more of whatever you'd like.  Their menu changes depending on the day, but they always serve skillet fried chicken and southern veggies and biscuits at every meal.

We went on Saturday for lunch and we were served the following:  cucumber salad, creamy coleslaw, collard greens, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, gravy, cornbread, corn pudding, baked beans, meatloaf, fried chicken, barbecue ribs, baked apples, and banana cream pie.  Oh my goodness, really, my words just aren't doing the food justice.  It was divine and it was worth every single minute I probably took off my life.

Newel and I both thought of my dad and brothers.  They would love this place and they would do some damage.  My dad would definitely feel like it was a "spiritual" experience and it almost was for me.

Really, if you ever go to Nashville or if you're even close to Nashville, and you don't care about eating healthy, low-fat, low-carb, low/no-sugar, vegetarian/vegan, or anything to do with portion control, GO TO MONELL'S.  It is a really fun eating experience and the food is SO delicious!

Oh Wow & The Parthenon

I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post!  For some reason I thought I wrote about the rain just a few days ago.  Maybe that's because it was raining again just a few days ago...

Anyway, Newel and I drove up to Nashville for his birthday last weekend.  It was really fun and my pictures don't do the city of Nashville justice.

On Saturday, we went to Centennial Park and saw the Parthenon.  

Me at Centennial Park.

Newel inside the Parthenon in front of the huge Athena statue.

Us in front of the Parthenon.  We're itty-bitty because the Parthenon is SO big.  It's supposed to be an exact replica of the Parthenon in Athens so it's almost like we went to Greece... :)

It was kind of cold when we were there & everything was pretty dead looking because it's still winter, but it was cool visiting the Parthenon and walking around the park.  No hip pain for Newel either!

Rain, Rain, Go Away?

It's has been raining here since Sunday; pretty much the whole time too.  Living in a place where it rains a lot is still very novel to me since San Diego didn't get very much rain, and if it ever rained in Utah, it was snow.  I've come to like it, but I really need to purchase some rain boots.  I think they would really help me out.  Here's a picture I took of our apartment complex after it down-poured when we first moved here.

I thought it was so crazy, but then I learned that it just rains a lot here and that's how it is.  I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but I decided I like it a lot.  It reminds me of Heavenly Father because I think how the rain comes from above, and that's where He is.  I'm grateful He sends all this rain to Birmingham.  It makes everything so green and pretty.

It's Happening

 My sister was called to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas, Fort Worth Mission.  She reports to the Missionary Training Center on May 1st.

She's going to LOVE her mission and she's going to LOVE the South.  So excited for her!!!

Back in the South!

Yessss!  Newel's back in the South.  I've been meaning to take pictures, but I haven't.  So sorry.  Newel came back on Saturday and it's so good to have him home.  Our apartment has life again.  Not that I've been dead or anything.  But I'm such a quiet person when he's not around (probably because there's no one to talk to when I'm at home).

When I picked Newel up from the airport, I expected to see him hobbling on his forearm crutches (kind of like he was when I left him in Utah except a little better because it had been 3 weeks), but instead he was walking and pulling his rolling carry-on behind him!  Sweet!  The flight took it out of him (because sitting for a long time is still pretty uncomfortable), but he looked so great.

When we walked out of the airport, Newel said, "Wow, it feels so good out here.  Nice and warm." (and it was).  When we drove home from the airport, Newel said, "Man, it's good to be back in the South." (and it is).  When I was at work yesterday, Newel texted me: "I just love mingling with these laid back country folk." (and I do too).  We really love it here, and we're so grateful to be in/be back in the South!

How to talk Southern

I'm sure someone's written a book on how to talk like you're from the South, but here are some things I can think of off the top of my head:

y'all - you guys or you all; as in "What are y'all doin' tonight?" or "Did y'all meet your neighbors?" (You must say y'all; it feels weird saying you guys in the South.)

fixin' to - planning on; as in "I'm fixin' to go to the store and buy me some grits." or "Miss Hillary, are you fixin' to give me my homework folder?"

mmkay - okay; as in "Y'all better listen up, mmkay?" or "This is how it works, mmkay."

might could - might or could (not both) :) ; as in "You might could try giving him some candy now."

cut off/cut on - turn off/turn on; as "Cut that machine off."  or "I tried cutting it off then cutting it back on, but it wouldn't work. (that one really threw me for a loop.)

Begin incorporating these into your everyday conversation, and you'll start to sound like a true Southerner.

P.S. The drawl just takes some practice.

January 18th

40 something years ago, my middle namesake was born.  She's my dad's sister and she is a really wonderful aunt.

4 years ago, I went on my first date with Newel.

3 years ago, Newel asked me to marry him and I said yes, of course.  The picture below is of us the night we got engaged.

2 years ago, we went to Olive Garden.

1 year ago, we went to Cafe Rio and saw the new Muppets movie.

This year, Newel was in Utah with his new hip, and I was in Bham watching the BYU Men's Volleyball Team beat #1 ranked UC Irvine.

January 18th is a pretty darn good day.  Probably one of my favorite regular days of the year!