The Adventures of MoMe and NeeNee: January 2012

I haven't been to NeeNee's for a while. When a three day weekend came up for the both of us, I jumped at the chance for a road trip, albeit a short one. The road tends to put me to sleep in a hurry so I made a couple of stops in preparation for the trip. After perusing the audio book section of Books-A-Million, I purchased a Jennifer Weiner, "Best Friends Forever". It sounded perfect for a BFF weekend. I added two Gregory Maguire to listen to on the way to work the following week...and just incase I wasn't in the mood for Jennifer Weiner. Next stop, Walmart for a few snacks - Jelly Bellys, because it is a road trip tradition, and a box of Cheese Its, as a salty balance to the sweet. I run by the house and make a turkey sandwich, grab an apple, and a bottle of Ruby Red grapefruit juice, and I hit the road.

After two hours on the road, I leave the Interstate. I stop at a Chevron for gas and a PowerBall ticket. (I am sure I am going to win this time...) I get out and stretch my legs and head inside. I fill out the PowerBall form and grab a much needed cup of coffee. The clerk tells me that I need to fill out the form again because I can't buy more than one draw. After a little discussion, I give up and refill out the form, even though I think I am right and she is wrong. I give her the new form and she asks if I realized that I filled out a PowerBall form and not a Lotto form. Yes, I know I have filled out a PowerBall form and yes, I know it is $2 and not a dollar.

After we get that straightened out, she rings up my order and two young men walk into the store. One has a hood over his head. She visibly tenses up. She asks him to take the hood off. He ignores her. Do I stay so that she will have someone with her? Or do I get out and worry about my own safety? She asks him a second time. This time he takes the hood off. She relaxes a bit and other people walk into the store. I head out to pump my gas.

I can't get the pump to work and ask the woman at the next pump if she had trouble. After waving goodbye to the man at the next pump, whom she had just met, she stepped over to my pump to show me that if you hold your hand over the small line of digital text to block the sun, and crouch down real low, you could read that you needed to type in your zip code. I never would have figured that one out by myself. I pump the gas and get back on the road.

The last hour is my favorite part. I am out in the country and pass mile after mile of fields and pine trees with a few oaks thrown in. I feel myself relaxing and the stress leaving my shoulders.

Finally, after three hours on the road, I arrive! There is no time to relax as we are cooking as soon as I walk in the door. NeeNee's roommate comes down to help carry my things in and I head to the stove. NeeNee has already started White Bean and Chicken Chili. The smells emanating from the pot are spicy and enticing. I start chopping onions for the Cheddar Broccoli Cornbread. Once the cornbread is in the oven, NeeNee shows me how to stir together Blonde Brownies. The brownies are made on the stove and not with a mixer. I am intrigued. This is like no brownie recipe that I have ever heard of. I can't wait to taste them.

Soon NeeNee's kids arrive and the fun begins! We discuss books we are reading, movies we have seen, and reminiscing about previous visits. The timer dings for the cornbread. I pull the cornbread out of the oven and pop in the brownies. We set the food out self-serve style and everyone digs in. The chili gets a dollop of sour cream and a warm square of cornbread is served on the side. Mmmm, comfort food. Nothing better on a cold winter night!

The food is cleared away and we pull out the cards and board games. We struggle through the first few minutes of Thirty-One until we all get used to the rules. After a round of cards, we switch to Apples to Apples. We all think our answers are the funniest and flutes of champaigne increase the intensity of our laughter.

NeeNee wins with five green cards and the party begins to break up. Melissa has to work in the morning so she and her boyfriend gather their coats and head for the door. Michael is smiling as he heads out and I know the evening was a success.

NeeNee's roommate begins cleaning up and we bring dishes for him to load the dishwasher. The evening is winding down. I feel a glow of satisfaction - good food, good friends, and entertainment. What more can you ask for?

Mome and I have lots of adventures together however since we live so far apart, we often take sidetrips with other people. This was one of those times!

My youngest son attends Auburn University where he is also employed as a videographer for the football team. My daughter,also named Melissa, decided to take a young Italian couple we to know to see their first college football game. We felt that the pagentry of a Homecoming game would be something to behold.....and it was.

We used the three hour drive to the Auburn to explain American football and to make them aware of the various traditions associated with Auburn University football. They learn the Fight song (somewhat), Glory Glory to Old Auburn, why we say "War Eagle" when we are the Tigers, etc. By the time we arrived at the stadium Columba and Antonio were fully indoctrinated and could shout "War Eagle" with the best of us. Lewie was able to leave his post from above the Jumbotron to come and say hello just before the game.