The World According to Leslie

Junior Gold National Tournament, 2021 Indianapolis, IN In 2019, we went to Detroit, MI, for almost two weeks so that Chasity could compete in the Junior Gold National Championships. She qualified in May of that year, we we took off to Michigan in July.  This year, 2021, we took off on July 8 to Indiana. We drove through a few states to get there. On the way back, we stopped in Kentucky (to see Church Hill Downs) and Pigeon Forge (just because).  On the way to Indiana, we saw a lot of rain, but we saw some beautiful clouds after it.  After one of Chasity's practice sessions, we went to downtown Indianapolis. We found Lucas Oil Stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play. We did not go for a tour, but we did drive around and take a lot of pictures. Chasity took pictures on my phone. I used my camera.  Between her 2nd and 3rd practice sessions, we went to the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds . That place is H.U.G.E! We had to do registration so she could get her badge and b...

We are home.  We got in yesterday evening, around 6:30, I guess. First stop?  My parents' house.  Whether they are with us or not, we always stop there FIRST when we get back into town. I used my Fitbit the entire weekend.  I walked over a mile every day!  LOVE IT! On the way up, it was uneventful. Not much traffic. Great weather. We got there.  We definitely sent pics of lots of stuff to my mom and sister during the trip. Although it's a little blurry, that was the first sighting of the mountains that we had on the way up! While we were there, we had to go to Krispy Kreme.  We went on 3/17 while they had GREEN doughnuts.  We got to watch them make them.  It was AWESOME!  (I did a live video of some doughnuts coming through.  Go check it out on my Facebook page.) They look a little weird, but they tasted like HOT, melty Krispy Kreme doughnuts!  (Sorry if you missed them on St. Patrick's Day!) ...

I have been waiting for this day for what seems like forever! Today is GOING TO PIGEON FORGE DAY! It's also Pancake Day at the Boys' and Girls' Club in Cabarrus County.  MAYBE I'll get to go by there before we leave, but it's always PACKED! Today checks off one of my 2018 goals!!  I'm so excited! I will post pics and probably do some live Facebook videos while we are there.  I love Pigeon Forge!  (Have I said that before!?) The sad part is that I couldn't convince my parents to go.  So.... I'm going to work on making that happen this summer.... or at Christmas.... or both! :) What amazing things are you doing today???

I can't believe that it's March 1st already!  I say this all the time, but HOW does time go by so quickly? Way back in January, I wrote out my goals for the year.  You can read them here . At the end of January, I wrote how I was progressing on those goals.  You can read that here . Now that February has ended already, (again, HOW?!), I can update how my goals are going now. 1. Go ice skating       I am hoping to do this in Ober Gatlinburg in March.  :) If not, I'll have to find somewhere to do it.  There is an open-air one at Concord Mills Mall at Christmas time. 2. Enter a bowling tournament       The tournament that Tony and I were supposed to enter...well... we didn't get entered.  That's a good thing. We would have been out the money.  I was very sick that weekend and couldn't have bowled anyways.  There WILL be another tournament, and I will find a way to enter. 3. Go Horse...

On January 1, 2018, I made a list of things I want to do this year. They aren't resolutions... they are goals I have for things I want/plan to do. You can check out my goal post here.  I am hoping to do a monthly update about my goals.  Goals Update---January Ice skating, roller skating, horseback riding---haven't done those yet.  When I do them, I hope someone will get lots of pictures for me to share.  There is a bowling tournament coming up in February...on my bday weekend. I'm hoping to get Tony to enter it with me. It's a mixed doubles tournament. I'm still building my blog, so I haven't looked at affiliates yet. I need to get my mile time better/more consistent, and I don't want to freeze at the 5K. So I haven't done it yet. 20 book goal.... I have read 1 ( The Book Thief ) and loved it.  I'm currently reading Life of Pi . I want to see both movies as well. We are planning to go to Pigeon Forge in March. We are hoping to go M...

Again, I am behind on posting things. Between August 18-21, lots of things happened (especially on the 21st) and I literally made a list of blogs to write; so I wouldn't forget. Then, as always happens, things went haywire and I didn't get them "on paper" before it's basically like an afterthought. I am part Cherokee. I have a grandmother (a few "greats" back) who was full-blooded. I've probably said before that my dad has that "red mud Indian skin". He's naturally tan all year.  (I'm actually jealous...since I'm pastey pale!) Every year, when we visit Pigeon Forge, TN--one of my most favorite places on earth--we go through Cherokee. During the summer, we always stop to watch the dancers on the street and listen to the stories. We also get pictures. This year, we did not go to Pigeon Forge (over the summer anyways), but we went to Cherokee for the eclipse. I always joke that being in the mountains makes you closer to...

Last Friday, Tony and I checked the Princess out of school early. We had the car loaded up, and we headed to Pigeon Forge. The Relentless Youth Group from Remedy Church left earlier that morning for Shabbach Youth Conference 2017. We didn't want her to miss an entire day of school, so we checked her out after 1/2 day. That means that Tony was off work on Friday. We drove up on Friday. We dropped the Princess off with the group just in time for church services on Friday night. We hung out with the group at the Alpine Coaster , where Tony's cart got stuck on the track in the pouring rain! (That's a completely different story!)   We also went to ride go karts and play at the arcade! Sunday, after the morning services, we collected the Princess from the group. We hung around and did some things together as a family. Then we headed home. Tony had some vacation days to use, so he also took Monday off of work. We went grocery shopping (which we normally do on Sun...

Yesterday went well.  I didn't cry when I dropped the Princess off at the high school for Transition Day. (I'm not promising I won't cry when I drop her off for the first day of school next year!) I didn't cry when I picked her up and she was wearing the new shirt they gave all the students that said the school name and "Class of 2021"!!!  (So unreal!) I made it through my speech last night. It was very laid back, and I'm not sure why I haven't been going to the support group over the past two years!  I may start going.... although I'm almost 2 years out from surgery. I may go just to have the group to help keep me motivated when I need it.  Plus, in April, they are discussing smoothie and protein shake recipes.  I need help in that area anyways!  There were two other people on the panel last night. When we finished talking, the group could ask us questions, but there were only like 3 questions. I really thought there would be more!  Eith...

Today is Day #4 of the Writing Challenge. Check out Day #1 , Day #2 , and Day #3 . Then, join in!  It's fun writing about things!  Just be sure to leave a link to your post in the comments so I can come check it out! Today's Challenge: "What do you think about most?" To me, that's a loaded question. It depends on my mood. It depends on my plans. It just depends. Most of the time, I think about how I need a full time job. I want to get back into teaching. I apply for jobs, but I haven't gotten any of them. I think about my daughter's future. I think about all the things she can become, and the things that scare me about that!  I think about going back to school. I just don't know what I'd study. I've looked at the audition requirements for going back to school as a music major, but they TERRIFY me! It's been 20 years since I played on a regular basis.. I think about writing. I'm doing it more now. I love writing. I think...

The doctors told me to "return to normal" so I have been doing everything I normally do.  Almost everything.... I haven't had a chance to get back to the gym. I'm still trying to work that into my strange schedule.  I get the Princess off to school in the mornings. Then I head to the daycare to help my mom, since my friend who really works there is still out on medical leave. After I leave there, different days are different times, I head home for just a little bit before heading to get the Princess from softball practice. Two days a week, she has games. As of last Wednesday, the first game, she is the starting first baseman! Last year she only got to play in 2-3 games because she was in 7th grade. This year, as an 8th grader, she's a starter!  She got her same number too!  #18!!!! We have school stuff, like meetings and stuff to handle in the evenings. We have church stuff. We also have Girl Scout stuff. We stay pretty busy!  However, it's nice to be ...

Although I haven’t written anything in about 2 months here, I did not fall off the face of the earth. I have, however, sat at the computer wanting to write. Some days it just doesn’t happen.    I have a writing job for the summer—$8/article and I can write at least 2 an hour.   That’s more than I make teaching!  No!  I’m not kidding!  lol  (It’s sad!)   I get to go back to work in just a couple of weeks.  Actually…..  two weeks from today!  WOW!  Same school! More kids.  This year, I’m teaching regular Freshman English and Mythology.  I’ll have about 35 kids in each class!  (I know, right?!)   We went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge on Vacation last month.  We took Mom and Dad with us!  We love going there. We went to a few shows.  Maybe… just maybe…. I’ll do a post about that!    I am now a CRIMINAL MINDS fanatic!  I love this show!  I had never watched an entir...