The difference between boys and girls

The other day I had the following conversation with Chris:

[While watching ESPN on tv, a female reporter came on.]
Me: "I wonder if side-bangs will be one of those things that we look back on five to ten years from now and think how ridiculous they look...You know, like when people feathered their bangs in the 90s?"

Chris: "What are side-bangs?"

Me: "Did you just see that reporter on tv? She had side-bangs."

Chris: "I didn't notice."

Katie: "Okay, well, like Lauren's hair." [Lauren is my sister for those of you who don't know.] "Lauren has had bangs for three of four years now."

Chris: "Lauren has bangs?"

Me: "...you've got to be kidding me."

I don't get it! Is this conversation the result of unfamiliar terminology? Is it simply a lack of observation on Chris' part? The thing is, Chris is usually very observant. He tends to notice things like whether I have a new article of clothing or whether I've painted my nails. Could it be that guys specifically just don't notice hair? I am totally at a loss here!

Enjoying Fall

I'm doing everything I can to desperately cling to the last remnants of decent weather before winter starts to set in. I'll admit that it has been nice to wake up in daylight lately, but I haven't met a single person who actually prefers to "fall back" except for the extra hour of sleep you get that weekend. I'd much rather wake up in the dark and still have an hour of daylight left in the evening! Anyway, last weekend was a gift in the midst of the cold fronts and rain we've been having lately. I decided to take advantage of it by reading my book outside for awhile. I didn't have an outside chair but I didn't let that impede on my plans. I simply moved an indoor one out there :)

It was wonderful. The sun was shining, the air was relatively warm, but it still had that crisp quality to it that makes fall my favorite season.

I hope you're all enjoying the rest of the season!

Today's Farmville Moment - Cleaning out the cars

Today when we got home from church we decided to be semi-productive during the Redskins game and vacuum out the cars. It's unseasonably warm here today - I think we passed an electronic sign driving through town that said it had hit 80 degrees. I even wore a skirt to church today, and it's November! We decided that today would be the best time to do it so we wouldn't be standing outside freezing next weekend trying to get it done.

Around here though, when you want to clean or vacuum out your car, people drive their cars right on up into their front lawn! (And when I say "people" do this, I mean I've seen it a handful of times and figured it was a good enough idea that we should do it, too.) I've seen a car on someone's front lawn, one parked in the grass in someone's backyard, and someone driving through their yard to get to the street instead of reversing down their driveway. It really surprised me at first, but it was so helpful when we were moving in to be able to back the moving truck right on up to the front door.

We still had to use an extension cord for the vacuum, but it ended up working out really well. The only negative was that we left tire treads in the front yard where the grass had been smashed down. Since we only did it once though, I think the grass will survive.

H-SC football

This weekend was the last home football game at Hampden-Sydney. So far the team is undefeated and ranked 17th in the country (before they won again today). Due to soccer games, visiting friends, and having friends come visit us we haven't been to a single football game this year. Since today was their last one, we decided to go! By the end of the first quarter the score was already 31-0.

We really enjoyed it due to the awesome weather, good people, and good food!

Thank goodness for etiquette dinners

During my senior year in college, my roommates and I decided to participate in an etiquette dinner. It wasn't because we wanted to learn etiquette either... It was because this dinner was a 5-course meal, sounded absolutely delicious, and cost only $5.  So we went!

They taught us everything from how to properly cut up our food and which pieces of silverware to use for various courses down to how to accept a toast in your honor, how to give a proper toast, and dinner conversation rules. The lady they brought in to educate us (you would think we were heathens the way she treated us!) was very thorough and very strict. You can imagine how "proper" our dinner conversations were that evening. I believe we even ended up nicknaming her but the name we gave her escapes me now... (Do any of you that came to that dinner remember??)

Anyway, this week has been busy due to a symposium being held at the college. Since I was on the planning committee for the past couple months, I happened to be invited to the dinners this week. We had speakers from all over the place in town for the week:  academics, doctors, government officials, you name it! I was trying to make a good impression but when I got to dinner that first night, I had more forks than I knew what to do with! I took a deep breath, sat down and started rifling through any stored knowledge I had from that dinner two years ago. I may not have gotten everything right, but I definitely faked it well enough that no one noticed the difference! I'm so glad I attended that etiquette dinner. I was glad then, too, but more because of a full belly than because of the new manners I had learned.

Exploring the area

We've had very fortunate weather down here recently for fall. It's definitely rained its fair share, but we've also had warm days. Plus, even on some of our cold days (today), the sun is out which makes it feel warmer out than it actually is. Last week before the time change went into effect I decided to explore a trail that runs off the main road next to our neighborhood. I figured since it was named after our state flower, it had to be good! Plus dogwood trees are gorgeous (my parents used to have out in our backyard), so I figured it would be pretty, too.

It started out nicely, but the sun was setting rapidly so I didn't want to stay out too long.

And I got my wish! About a half a mile to a mile down the trail, it just dead-ended. And where did it dead-end you ask? In the parking lot of the hospital! I don't really get it. It's a short trail that leads from a neighborhood to a hospital parking lot. Oh well...

I tried to walk home through town (the hospital is in town), but of course I got lost. I found my way once I found that main street again, but I was still bummed the trail didn't loop around or even continue for a little longer. Hopefully next time I'll find a more successful path!

Additional benefits to carving a pumpkin

I love pumpkin seeds. They are so good. Chris was skeptical at first despite the fact that I promised him I had made these last year and that he had liked them. The thing is, he doesn't tend to like anything pumpkin related. Not pumpkin pie, not pumpkin-flavored pastries or bread, pumpkin ice cream, coffee, etc. Well, lo and behold (can I say that?) I made them again and he liked them! They didn't last very long...