A "real" man?

A friend who went along on our Memorial Day hike emailed these pics to me yesterday, reminding me of one of the funniest moments of that weekend. One of our guys, a type A personality (notice he's in the lead...as he was the whole trip), brought a backpack that included a handle for pulling as a suitcase. I think the manufacturer intended this multipurpose pack for use in airports, but, despite gravel and roots, he said, "Why carry when you can roll?"
Not 2 minutes later, we approached a park ranger and group of girls. To our astonishment, he threw ego aside and continued to pull the pack. If you look closely, you can see the woman shaking her finger at him as she said, "Now that's not right! A real man would carry his pack." Paying them no mind, he pulled it until we started actually climbing.

If you've ever had a Confederate flag as the backdrop for your wedding cake...

...you might be a redneck.

Where do I begin? This weekend, AF and I attended the most redneck wedding we've ever seen. The bride is a former co-worker with AF. The bride and groom invited their Harley-Davidson gang to attend, so they did so, all wearing their leather jackets and displaying multiple tattoos each. After saying "I do" and kissing the bride, the bride immediately said, "We're hitched! Now who's got mah beer?" At that point, we noticed she'd gone through the whole ceremony with her cell phone sticking out the top of her wedding dress, in case someone needed directions I suppose? The reception was held in their garage, the walls of which were adorned with nude posters of women astride hogs. The happy couple toasted the crowd with beer mugs before cutting the cake. The "minister", ordained via Internet, was paid in Heineken beer and also had multiple tats. Each guest was given a souvenir beer coozie complete w/ a cuss word on it.
A number of things confirmed this was not a Mensa convention. The first sign was the row of 14 Harleys in front of the house. Second was a conversation I overheard where a guy was explaining how, as a parent, he didn't mind playing along with his daughter. He explained, "Yeah, I even dress up my daughter in frilly lace. You see, I had a girl." And third, a girl 2 months pregnant at our dining table explained in full detail to AF the exact way to ensure pregnancy and actually used the word cervix.
All that said, the wedding was held on a dock at a new house on the Catawba River. Very nice grounds and the catering was great. BBQ, beans, cole slaw, beer, and unbelievable hush puppies.
We left shortly before the 7pm adult after party started where attendees were invited to use their own camping gear. My thought was, "It's gonna get more adult than this?"

Taylor's 5th Grade Graduation

Taylor had a big day Thursday, 14th, at her graduation. She earned awards for Citizenship, Honor Roll, Beta Club, and was given two certificates "signed" by Pres. Bush. The highlight of her day was getting a ride from school to Frank's Pizza in a limo. The limo and special lunch was only for kids who scored perfectly on last years Standards of Learning tests.
So, on to 6th grade. (Last weekend, Taylor and I were discussing the pros and cons of various universities. Time is really moving now.)

What is 5555?

5555 could be the number of minutes in 2 work weeks.
5555 could be the number of M&M's I've consumed in my lifetime.
5555 could be the number of times I've said "I love you".

Yesterday, that number took on a different significance at church as the congregation's three week long food drive came to a close. Our goal was to collect 2000 lbs, one ton, of food for Second Harvest, a nation wide, non-profit organization. As you may have guessed, the talley surprised everyone as the number of pounds came in at 5555! That number actually was
surpassed minutes after it was announced as several members brought in more food. The Director of Second Harvest, an unusual orator (during one question, she took a strange stance for a minute or so, as if stretching her legs preparing for a run or pausing while stepping from stone to distant stone in a wide stream), was very appreciative and advised this amount of food would last one person 4000 meals, or a family of four 1000 meals.

We're blessed to have been born in a time and society where it doesn't put a dent in our budget, not only to buy enough food for ourselves, but some extra for strangers.

As a brother tells me from time to time when I'm worried about the amount of food available for house church, "loaves and fishes, Russ.....loaves and fishes".

Kristy's NC visit!

Kristy's NC whirlwind visit came to an end this morning when she left on her multiple-flight return to TX. We had a blast while she was here, visiting her old museum in Greensboro, eating at Jack's Greek diner at UNCG, shopping at the Clothesline (fun for the girls anyway), and explaining why there was a bowling ball with a 9' chain attached in our hotel room closet.
When Kristy put her clothes away, she saw it and thought it was some weird hotel security device, that people must've been stealing the closet rods. When she discovered it wasn't attached, she held it up in confusion. (Pardon the blurry camera phone picture.) Taylor, AF, and I held our laughter for hours until we had to explain why it was in my trunk. (She couldn't believe I had stolen it.) I explained it was a practical joke on my friend for which I was throwing a bachelor party the next night.
(The party went extremely well and the guys died laughing at the "ball and chain" joke, which Eli had to wear all evening. We raised $104 for charity with the poker tourney.)
Kristy called minutes ago and said she was already in Philadelphia and hoping to catch the 11:40am flight to DFW. We miss you already, Kris!