The thrills of everyday life!

So, now that everyone is all caught up, I'll get into it :) So, a few days ago, my husband informs me that we are going on a surprise day trip and that if he catches me looking at the computer history, he's going to forget the whole thing. For anyone who doesn't know, I'm a total National Park NERD. Therefore, when he tells me that I'll be getting a new stamp in my national park passport, I immediately suppress my urge to giggle with glee and scour my map for parks nearby that we could possibly be visiting. I start pressing him for information...going through every single option and he refuses to tell me where we're going. So, today he finally budges...while we're driving there haha We were heading to Fort Donelson...I'm excited as I've never been to a national battlefield before...Will there be antique weapons and uniforms? Will there be reenactments? Will there be people in BLACKFACE???? I know from preliminary research before moving here that some weirdos (including some misguided African Americans) take place in these reenactments of battles and plantation dinners...I mean it, google that shit! So, we pick up some lunch to eat when we get there, fill up our tank and start driving the hour or so to get there. We begin by driving through Dover, TN which is having a street fair. It's a cute little town that has a downtown area like the city my grandparents grew up in. The shops lining the streets and that small town feel really reminded me of Cherokee. Long story short, we went to the visitor center and I got my stamps...We went on a driving tour and saw the river section where the Union, including a new general Ulysses S. Grant, gained the Confederacy's stronghold on the river and we were DEAFENED by the cicadas!!!! They sounds like the most annoying car alarm you've ever heard and were dead all over the ground.

We visited the cemetery where there were many headstones from the Civil War and even recent ones for fallen soldiers from the area. Near the cemetery was a plaque with the Gettysburg Address on it and a few plaques with some haikus that spanned from inappropriate for a cemetery to distasteful; speaking about whiskey and tattoos. I felt like any minute we'd stumble onto the VanZant plot. 

All in all, it was informative and a nice drive but pales in comparison to some of the other national parks I've visited. I was happy to get to my first national park in Tennessee, but I want to find others that are less.....bizarre. 

 In other news, I recently purchased a new book. After many recommendations and hearing about it on Mugglecast (a Harry Potter Podcast that I listen to), I bought The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins at the airport on my way home from Arizona about 6 weeks ago. I didn't have a chance to read it until a few nights ago when our power went out a few nights ago during a terrible thunderstorm in which the lighting was so frequent I began to understand Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" like a true celebrity. So, with my flashlight on my shoulder I read in bed just like I used to do when we were camping in a tent! The novel itself was slow to start, but once you get past the first chapter it picks up rather quickly. The premise of the first book of the series is this:
 Katniss is a girl living in District 12 of Panem, previously known as the Appalachian region of North America. As punishment for an attempted revolt, the government of Panem holds The Hunger Games each year where two children from each district must fight to the death until only one remains. When Prim, Katniss' younger sister, is drawn to participate Katniss takes her place to save her life. After some preparation, Katniss and the other contestants are left to battle in the wilderness. Will she survive? Even I don't know! I'll give a full review of the book once I'm finished :) As of now, I highly recommend it.

Although I've been aware of Adele's new album for quite some time, it wasn't until recently that my sister sent my her new album 21. On this album is a new favorite of mine, "Rolling in the Deep." Her voice has such soul and depth even without such poignant  lyrics. The song itself harks back to an Aretha Franklin/Rolling Stones mixture consisting of a "Gimme Shelter" beat and a "Chain of Fools" bravado. I'm sure the rest of her album will be just as soulful and enjoyable. I've also enjoyed her previous album 19 with songs such as "Chasing Pavements," "First Love" and "Could Shoulder." In addition, the Live from Soho album that she did has jazzy treats like "Fool That I Am." Add these songs to your playlists for housework or making dinner and you won't be disappointed! 

LE FIN