Sunday, June 13th Hugh McAloon celebrated his 42nd birthday. To celebrate, we had lunch today at the Buttercup where Hugh's "girlfriend" surprised him with a yummy chocolate cupcake covered in frosting. Hugh being the generous man he is, shared with all the girls. Amanda gave Hugh his "This man likes Ta-Tas" t-shirt which we hope he will wear during the Susan G. Komen walk he is participating in later this year.

Tomorrow I will be giving Hugh my present which I hope he will enjoy as well.

Best wishes to Hugh for a year full of pleasant surprises which will bring him lifelong joy.

Last Thursday, upon arriving in Biloxi I was issued a Chrysler 300 (almost identical to the one pictured above) as a rental car for June-July. Thanks to Enterprise I'm cruisin' the coast in style.

had to be a woman's idea because they're a great way to satisfy the sweet/salty cravings many women experience while PMSing. I like the result but wonder why it took Mars so long to come up with the idea.

Last Saturday, I traveled to Cave City, Kentucky to tour Mammouth Caves the largest cave system in the world, thus earning its name; Mammouth. Although we had planned to take the 'Snowball' tour we ended up waiting around the park, there's not much to do above ground, for the 1:15PM 'Historic' tour because park personnel refused to make room for one more person on the 9:30AM 'Snowball' tour. I understand, believe me, I do. I should have reserved tickets in advance but I have to admit, at the time, I was really disappointed and a little pissed.

The 'Historic' tour was great. In fact, if my Aunt Linda had not recommended the 'Snowball' tour I would have selected the 'Historic' tour anyway because we all know, I love history.
Mr. Ty, our park ranger and native Kentuckian, was fantastic! He was not only informative but very enthusiastic. His excitement was contagious. I exited the caves with an increased sense of state pride.
Kentucky, home of the largest cave system in the world, can be added to the long list of what makes Kentucky a great place to live. Home of Bluegrass music, Loretta Lynn, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, The Judds, Adolph Rupp, Henry Clay, Dwight Yokum, Maker's Mark, Derby Pie, the Hot Brown, the Kentucky Derby, Ale-8, and the list goes on and on. Oh wait! Kentucky, home of the Cat Farm. I knew I was forgetting something. I digress.
I have been wanting to see the caves since I was a child. Although the caves weren't exactly what I was expecting, I don't regret the trip. If you haven't had the opportunity to tour the caves and you are in the neighborhood; DO IT! And while you're there, if you happen to run into Ranger Ty, tell him I said, "hello."

We spent our last full day in Pigeon Forge at Dollywood which, according to the sign, is celebrating its twenty-fifth year. We had a wonderful time making memories we will, no doubt, share countless times in the upcoming years.

This was the first time my father and his brothers and sisters have ever taken a vacation together. Each mentioned they regretted waiting so long to do so. It was interesting observing my relatives apart from the environment I am accustomed to interacting with them in, i.e. my Grandma's house.

They were like teenagers. I wanted to crash at 11PM but they stayed up until 3AM playing pool, Scrabble and talking about anything and everything. Instead of sleeping in they were up again with the sun, rising around 6AM. They love spending time together and they all get along so well. It's truly incredible.

This was not my first trip to Pigeon Forge or Dollywood. Dad took Josh and I shortly after the park opened almost twenty years ago. All of my relatives, with the exception of my Aunt Lois, have also been to Pigeon Forge. It was especially exciting watching her experience an amusement park for the first time in all her sixty-three years.

Instead of watching shows, we decided to spend our afternoon riding rides. Beginning with Raging Rapids we persuaded my Aunt Lois to "trust us" and ride everything from water rides to roller coasters with us. She was so brave and she knew it too. Her reactions, which included exclamations like, "Lord Jesus save me!!" and "David, get me off this thing!!" were more entertaining than the rides. Despite everything she stayed with us, even riding the Tennessee Tornado and Mystery Mine rides.

We concluded the day with a train ride around Dollywood on an engine named Cinderella. At the beginning of the train ride, each passenger is encouraged to wave and yell "How-dee" to everyone they see as the train travels throughout the park, a custom I had forgotten since my last visit.
Although twenty years separated my two Dollywood excursions, it appears another trip is in my future. My cousin Latosha is getting married in nearby Gatlinburg on October 9th, an event that will reunite the family in the Smokey Mountains for the second time this year. From now until October I will be planning my next Tennessee adventure which I hope will include Cade's Cove and lunch at the Pizza Palace in Knoxville. If anyone has suggestions of other interesting attractions to see in and around Pigeon Forge I would love to hear about them.

Last Monday I drove to Pigeon Forge where I spent the week with my Dad, his brothers and sisters and their spouses at a 7 bedroom/7.5 bathroom cabin. So nice. I even had my own room with a full bath.

Typical of Pigeon Forge tourists we saw shows, hit the Tanger outlet mall, and spent a day at Dollywood, which I will blog about later.

After seeing a show at the Comedy Barn, Dad decided to sport his overalls, glasses and fishing hat assuming the personae of "Farmer Brown," which three-year old Brody loved. Most of our downtime was spent rocking on the upper deck where we watched Brody blow bubbles as we "chewed the fat." I couldn't resist getting a photo with Dad, or should I say, Farmer Brown as he whittled his cedar block; a memory I will cherish forever.

are generally something I like to have when on vacation, deciding where to dine, or to shop and especially where to use the restroom. If this home were on the market I would have a choice to make but it's not, perhaps saving me from making a decision I might regret.

However, I love it! It's located within minutes from the Cat Farm on Red House Road which intersects with the bypass and runs straight into downtown Richmond. The house sets back from the road on a gentle incline. There is a nice in-law cottage located in the back, perfect for guests. I love the small gambrel projection, the tapered columns and the three gable dormers. It's an unusual house but it has character and if it were on the market I would be tempted to snag it. Like Dad says, "Everyone needs a home base," and I think this little Craftsman hybrid would be perfect for me. The choice, for now, is not mine to make but someday...

Last Thursday afternoon, Kristy, Charisse and I traveled to Louisville to see the musical Wicked. Although I was familiar with the story before Thursday, I had never taken the opportunity to see it. I am so grateful to Marlow who graciously gave me his ticket and to Kristy for the invitation to join her and Charisse.

The set was impressive, the costumes lovely, the music fun and the cast

was fabulous. The energy of the auidence was incredible and made watching the show even more enjoyable.

Donna Vivino was a fantastic Elphaba but Chandra Lee Schwartz stole the show as Ga'Linda, or Glinda. Richard H. Blake made a handsome Fiyero while Richard Kline was a fun, but insensitive Wizard.

Although I enjoyed all the music I loved 'Popular' and 'For Good.' I absolutely wanted to steal Glinda's white suite, hat and heels and the dragon would be a cool addition to the Cat Farm. I'm not sure how musicals performed off Broadway compare, but I am curious to find out. If anyone's interested in a quick trip let me know. New York City in the fall would be, well...wicked.

Last Friday, while beating feet in downtown Washington, I decided to escape the heat by touring the National Aquarium located in the basement of the Department of Commerce building across from Federal Triangle. Much to my dismay drinks are not allowed in and cannot be purchased once inside. There is also a nine dollar entry fee to tour the aquarium, a collection of tanks arranged in a horse-shoe pattern.

While wondering the u-shaped aquarium corridor questions flooded my mind, such as, "this is our NATIONAL aquarium?" "Would it be more effective to combine the aquarium with the National Zoo?" "Why is it located in the basement of the Department of Commerce?" "Wouldn't a more effective use of this space be for storage or offices?"

Perhaps these are silly questions. I am positive I am not the first, and definitely will not be the last individual to question the location of the aquarium or its status as our NATIONAL Aquarium. Despite its size or content, if you're on the Mall and need a break from the sun check out the National Aquarium. The lines are a fraction of those for the museums and if you don't mind parting with nine dollars you can witness rats being fed to baby alligators, before walking away with that philanthropic feeling of I did something good today. I know I did.

Late last night I returned from a weekend trip to Washington that would have been impossible without the kindness of my Uncle Jerry. Saturday, as we were walking back from Georgetown we passed Pizza Paradiso's new location on P Street. Per Jerry's recommendation I decided to grab dinner there later that evening. I was not disappointed. The place was packed, always a good sign, and the food was excellent. I snagged a seat at the bar overlooking the large ovens in the rear where pizza "chefs" sported t-shirts with 'Eat Your Pizza' printed across the back. I couldn't decide if the phrase was intended as a command or encouragement. Either way, I obeyed and did just that. The only thing left on my plate were the fresh tomatoes I picked off my pizza.

Sooooo...should you find yourself in Washington, pounding pavement in Dupont or Georgetown, with a craving for pizza look no further than Pizza Paradiso. Like Papaleno's, its pizza paradise.

to Mary, "tink" model cat
and ZuZu, "fatty" bootiful girl!
This month our baby girls turn eleven. Since we can't remember their exact birth date we are going to do little things throughout May to celebrate. Yesterday, our "party" girls sported flower chockers around their necks. Today? Who knows?

Although Dad and I assembled it we're not the ones enjoying the new hammock.

I helped Dad hang the Seabee flag I bought for him at the Air Force base in Pensacola, Florida. It looks so nice floating beneath the Stars and Stripes.
I played with the cats in the backyard. A row of irises blooms every spring along the left-side of the fence. They are so lovely, I wish a row grew on the opposite side as well.

Two-story, double-galleried, variation of a Katrina Cottage with an asphalt shingle, gable-on-hip roof and Hardy Plank cladding. We spotted this pre-fabricated home on our return trip to Biloxi this afternoon just north of Gulfport on US Highway 49. I snapped this photo with my Blackberry.

Despite differing opinions of the populace, not a soul can argue the presence of Katrina Cottages have failed to significantly influence the built environment post-Katrina, shaping the future of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in ways that can and will only be measured years hence. It will be interesting to see if this two-story variation will be as popular or unpopular as its one-story predecessor.

Photo Courtesy Meg Richardson

Just for the record, not one of them is mine.

Photo Courtesy Hugh McAloon

Photo Courtesy Meg Richardson

Meg snapped this photo while we were surveying Harbor Drive yesterday in Ocean Springs. Boats are stored in a multi-storied metal "butler" building across from the boat dock. I assume people who wish to store their boats pay a storage fee. When they want to use their boats they call the storage facility and the boats are unloaded via a forklift, like the one shown in the photo, and they are placed in a boat lot at the dock.

I'm sure the forklift operator has a lot of experience unloading boats but I have to admit, the way the boat was bouncing on the lift made me a little nervous. Luckily, nothing happened except Meg got an awesome photo of a "flying" boat in Ocean Springs.

I have no idea who he is but we see him everyday, navigating the avenues of Ocean Springs on his bike. When I saw him coming our way yesterday, I tried to stop him for a picture. Instead of stopping, he rode around in circles until I could get a decent shot. Bike dude is a man of little words and his name remains a mystery but he has an air about him that I envy; carefree.
Thanks bike dude! See ya around Ocean Springs.

We, meaning Meg, Mandy and I, agree this photo should be called Cock of the Walk. This afternoon, as we were making the hike back to the car we noticed Hugh had his shirt tucked into the back of his pants. When someone asked Hugh about it, Mandy explained, "That's Hugh's rooster tail." Hugh is the only man in our four-person team or the only "rooster in the hen house and bears our teasing well." So well, we often joke he's "one of the girls."

So in honor of "our rooster," Hugh's "cock walk" is the field photo of the day!