The Rules:

Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you.
Include the state and country you’re in.
List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location (locally).
Tag 5 other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they’ve been tagged.

My 5 favorite places to eat locally: Florence, South Carolina

1) Redbone Alley - They have everything from steaks, to ribs, to pasta, to shrimp & grits and everything in between. They are very kid friendly also. The restaurant features an old restored Good Humor Ice Cream Truck that the kids can get a free treat from. My favorite is the Fettucine Mosaic. An alfredo dish that features grilled chicken & grilled shrimp. They Pizza Dip appetizer is wonderful also. Actually I don't think they make a bad dish at this place. Seriously.

2) Carolina Wings & Ribs - The hubs usually gets chicken wings and ribs. They have many, many, many flavors to choose from. I like chicken tenders (I don't eat chicken with bones in it) and they will toss them in any of the wing flavors for you. My favoite is the parmesan garlic. Lip smackin' good!

3) Pam's (actually located in Hartsville,SC)- I am not a fan of buffets. Normally they gross me out and just taste "mass produced". Ick. Not Pam's. I have been here literally hundreds of times and every single it tastes like Grandma cooked it just for the family. The buffet always has bbq pork, fried chicken and then usually either baked ham or turkey. Their pork & rice is yummy as is the cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, sweet corn, biscuits and did I mention the desserts? No banana pudding & jello on this bar. There are pies and cakes and cobblers. You can always have a dish of soft serve ice cream if you are so inclined.

4) Raceway Grill (Darlington,SC) They are renowned for their handcut french fries and huge hamburger steaks. I like their bacon chili cheeseburger as well. This place looks like a dive but it's located right next to the famous Nascar speedway and has long been a favorite of the Drivers on the circuit. Yum.

5) Schlotzskys- This is a chain but oh how I love their sandwiches. The turkey original on sourdough is my fave. Drizzled with a little oil & vinegar and dipped delicately in their signature hot sauce. Mmmmm good. They also have good mini pizzas and their soup and salads aren't bad either.

I'm not tagging anyone since Chickie didn't officially "tag" me but if you want to list your picks in the comments or on your own blog feel free!

Okay I had a semi-negative rant up here about stupid people but i'll just change it to something positive. Well i'm going to whine a little but you've all heard THAT before right? I want to go to the Beach. I wanted to go to Folly Beach this week-end but I didn't get to. Just once I wish someone would surprise me and say "Get in the car" and take me to the Beach. Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach, Tybee Island ANY Beach. Just once.

Daddy snapped a picture of his girls taking a beauty soak. I don't participate in the Thursday phenom known as Half Nekkid Thursday but I thought i'd share this one anyway!

This little guy guards my door. I have many different outfits to dress him in. This month he is a graduate in honor of my niece Jess who just graduated from FMU!

I might have showed this before. Can't remember but I bought this slate at the Azalea Festival in Summerville in April. They had many different styles but once I saw the SC symbol that was it. One lady even parked her car and came up to look at it and aske where I bought it. That's living in the city I guess!

This is my front side yard. You probably have to click on them to enlarge but there are two shephard hooks at each end of the picture with pink petunias hanging on them.

This is one of my many mini flags. I'm a flag "freak". Just thought i'd give you a close up. This sits between the two shephard hooks holding the pink petunias.

Does anyone else like to decorate and put stuff in their yard like I do? I have to be careful or it will be overload! You really have to strive for "balance". My one sister has so much stuff in her yard, well it borders on tacky but I love her so I can't call her tacky. Um, let's just say it's "busy" and leave it at that! Happy Hump Day Everybody!

First her and Daddy had to sit in Tony Stewart's car at the track. (her hair is finally growing - Yay)

Daddy is building her a playhouse - only she doesn't know it!

She is right on hand to give Daddy some help when needed.(those are her play tools)

Hey Daddy! What do I do now?

Ahhh finally I can relax in my pool with a nice cold Coca Cola!

I took my camera Friday but we also had Madison and it was so crazy that I just didn't get any pictures. I saw some (but not as much as at the Silver Crown race maybe because it was earlier in the day I don't know) and then Saturday the bottom dropped out and the race was postponed due to rain so we didn't even get down to the Track Saturday evening. I promise some FUG in the near future from the local racetrack.

My condolences go out to dear Casey at Dancing On The Edge who lost her Mother last Friday. I can't even imagine what it feels like. May your family finally find peace.


*** I don't know what the freakin' hell is up with Blogger but I am catching hell getting onto blogs so am just going to give it a rest for awhile. If I don't visit you today it's not for lack of trying!

Hey all- I forgot to tell you i'm off today (don't hate)!
It is "race week" here in neighboring Darlington and we went to the USAC silver crown race last night.
It was pretty good. FAST cars. OMG the FUG.
I didn't take my camera but i'm going back to the Track today and I will definitely take it. Redneck heaven.
Stacy and I snickered and nudged each other.
You never saw so many drunks congregated in one place that wasn't a wedding reception or a bar!
Despite the thousands of people there I bet we saw 12 people we know. We're so popular. Hah.
Anyway I am off to let the dog in and maybe catch a few more winks before we go over to the Track.
Have a great week-end!

This is the kind of classy joint me & Cheeky ate at! I had to laugh when I saw this in the bathroom and had to snap a pic. Actually Red's Icehouse was very good and I would definitely go back. I'm not a crystal chandelier/champagne kinda gal as a rule anyway!

Here are me (right) and Cheeky (left). Isn't she so pretty! The sun was blinding us (so we had to wear our shades). I think we look tres' cosmopolitan (yah right!) I hope she is enjoying her trip to Charleston and gets to spend at least one day at the BEACH. Can you see there is not much crab dip left LOL OMG that stuff was GOOD.

I managed to download the pics off of my camera last night and emailed them to myself here at work... but where are they? Oh well I know they are in the puter at home so i'll just post them tonight if I have to. I swear I am probably the most functioning techo-challenged person you will EVER meet.

Mmmm I made the yummiest mac n' cheese for dinner last night. While we were eating Madison said "It's good Mamma". I beamed with pride! I cut up a little bit of onion in it and Stacy grated a full two lbs of extra sharp white cheddar cheese to go in it and I crushed up potato chips on top. I know, VERY fattening but oh so very good.

I called home to remind Stacy of something and he was making the beds. What a guy!

Has anybody else ever gotten up at 3:30 a.m. just because their kid did not like what they were sleeping in? We had to change to a princess nightgown this a.m. BUT she did go right back to sleep............ *shrug*

Oh and a PSA - The three of you are not Miss America so you think you would work on keeping the ugly on the inside at bay. Not working.

I can't post the pic that the nice waitress took of us because my camera won't shake hands and be friends with my computer but I can say I heart Cheeky and she is EXACTLY like she is on her blog. I'm afraid I probably disappointed her and was more quiet than she expected but let me just say I would rather be beaten half to death than DRIVE and I drove 2 hours each way to meet her so I was kinda stressed from the driving. It was a comedy of errors though. She missed her flight in Chicago Saturday night and ended up spending the night there. She called me at 8a.m. to let me know (as I was going to leave out at 9a.m.) she wouldn't be getting in until about noon. I left a little later and parked on Rivers Avenue and browsed around Marshall's and TJMaxx while waiting on her call. She didn't waste anytime and she picked me up and we went to Shem Creek and ate at Red's IceHouse. OMG it was good. We shared a pitcher of Shem Creek Coolers (rum & pineapple juice & lime & grenadine YUM) and an appetizer of hot crab dip and then we both had lobster rolls. But the company was even better than the food. Cheeky is just so warm and bubbly and FUN. I wish our time had not been so short but we definitely plan to spend time together again, maybe in Columbia where we can spend the night and get our drink on and party with LEE of Carolina On My Mind. That would be awesome. Anyway thanks Cheeky for a wonderful afternoon!

I commented on somebody's blog (apologies cos' I can't remember who. I comment on a LOT of blogs daily and well, i'm 40 ya know cut me some slack!) that I wanted some rain as my lawn needed it and my flowers.
Well Maddie and I went to the park yesterday and as promised we took last weeks leftover taco shells to feed the squirrels. They love them. The sky was getting darker and I looked around and we were the only ones there.
I said "Maddie we'd better leave, I think it's gonna rain" (i'm smart like that.
I ran to the Pig (Piggly Wiggly for all you non-southerners) and got a few things I needed and we got home and I just got myself,the child and all the grocery bags into the house and the bottom DROPPED OUT. I don't mean it started sprinkling then raining I mean ~whoosh~ it started pounding down rain.
Holy hell. We had hail the size of tennis balls. So I got the rain I requested - and then some. It's raining this morning too but a nice little genty misty spring rain. Ahh... now if I could only be curled up in my bed, or on the couch or on my screened in porch wrapped in a throw and snoozing like a big dog. Does anybody else love rainy days like that as much as I do?

My kid acted the fool this morning again.
Carrie is taking her to Brittany's school for a May Day Celebration and told her she would get a spanking if she acted the fool there. She won't there. She knows Carrie doesn't play. Mommy doesn't either but DADDY was there and, well, I won't get into all of those issues. No use exposing myself for the sometimes bitter bitch that I truly am.
Wishing everyone a wonderful, fabulous week-end. I get to see Cheeky on Sunday!!!!!

To: The numerous women around Crying Cow Bank who have "cankles" please for the love of pete stop wearing kitten heels on those hooves.

To: "W A" in partial releases. Jerry Garcia called - he wants his hair back.

To: Asschips, no need to get all pissy just because someone called your brand new Dodge Magnum a "station wagon". Bwaa haa haaaaaa..........

To Blondie Poo with the $900 doggie who was a "cwismas pwesent". You shouldn't even be a pet owner. Your dog is not a possession it is a real animal with feelings. Ugh. I could happily dip you in a vat of boiling oil.

To: My Off-Spring: If you don't get off this "Daddy Do It" kick I am going to sell you to passing gypsies. Seriously. Daddy was not in labor with you for twelve hours nor did he birth 7+ lb you out of an opening the size of a walnut. A little gratitude would be nice.

I think that will do for now. Ahhhhh I feel better just letting it out! Carry on.

****IF YOU CLICK ON THE PICTURE IT WILL MAKE IT BIGGER SO YOU CAN SEE IT!

This is Madison's official easter portrait. I apologize if it's very small or crooked. My sister scanned it for me and I couldn't figure out how to improve it once she emailed it to me. We had it custom framed and it looks beautiful hanging on the wall. I can't believe how much of a little lady she looks like! *sniffle*

Since yesterday's post had me pissing and moaning about finding a new Dentist I might as well also divulge that my regular Doctor is leaving his general practice to go into the more lucrative cosmetic surgery area. Lovely.
I do have a back-up there, the Nurse Practicioner in his office is great.
Jenn "the upbeat divorcee'" blogged about her FREAKY gynecological experience.
My gyno, Dr. D,is my buddy - he saved my and Madison's life during childbirth (and according to him I still hold the record for most frightening birth experience he has ever had) and I can talk to him openly about anything.
Stacy likes him too (he went with me to every gyno appointment and tickled Dr. D to death).
Stacy was very involved in my pregnancy.
The night I gave birth to Maddie, Dr. D had stopped by and was sitting on the edge of the bed and he asked where Stacy was. I told him "In the nursery i've barely saw him since Maddie was born and I really didn't even get a good look at her yet". He buzzed a nurse to bring a wheelchair so I could go see my baby girl. "You know I thought for a moment there Stacy was just going to shove me over and deliver that baby himself". We laughed softly for a moment. Dr. D mused "He sure is going to be a good Daddy". You were wrong there, Dr. D. He's a GREAT Daddy!

I REALLY need to scan some of my wedding pics! Anyway I hope I haven't told my story before but I was thinking back to when Stacy and I first met.
We met in November 1988.
I worked at a local Motel just off of I-95 which was a busy~busy~busy place. (Florence IS about half-way between NYC & Miami you know!).
Stacy was working in Florence doing construction on the new UPS building and staying at the Motel.
My policy was "no dating guests. Ever" because plenty of married businessmen and truckdrivers were forever hitting on me.
Stacy asked me out and I told him said policy. The next night, he asked me again. Next night, again.
I thought "Holy Crap is this guy EVER going to get the message?". He would come down and work out in the Gym and I would do my work behind the front desk and snicker to myself because it was so obvious he was trying to impress me.
He would come to the desk when it was time to get off and we sat around and talked. Anyway I did give in and we did start dating.
He lived in Summerville (about an hour and a half away).
We did the long distance thing for a few months. Then he said his ex-GF wanted to get back together and he was "confused".
I solved his confusion for him, I told him we were through and that was that.
Little did I know he and the Ex had never broke up and he was a cheating low-down dirty dog but anyhoo......
It wasn't long after that he started contacting me again wanting to be friends, see me, etc.
I was having none of it.
For FIVE years he would call my house and talk to my Mom, my Dad, my Brother but I would never return his calls.
In June 1994 once again he called.
My Dad gave me the message and he and my Mom both said "Why don't you call that poor boy back?" and something just clicked and I thought "Why not?".
So, I did. We talked and talked and talked.
He drove up that week-end to pick me up and took me back down to Summerville.
We went out, we had a blast. The sparks were still there. This boy was serious.
In a matter of weeks I had moved down to his parents house and he was talking marriage.
At first I asked him if I could think about it. (Hey not every girl aspires to have Mrs. in front of her name!).
But after some soul-searching I realized I did love him.
He made me laugh, he made me feel special and despite the redneck good ol' boy exterior he was the Prince I always said I would have and wouldn't settle for anything less.
We got engaged July 1994 and planned on getting married St. Patricks Day 1995.
Well it wasn't long before we decided we didn't want to wait that long so we re-set our wedding date for October 22,1994 and the rest, they say is history.
Oh and did I ever worry about him being a cheating low-down dirty dog again?
Nah. He told me after we broke up he told his Daddy and all of his friends "If I can ever get that girl to go back with me, I"m going to marry her" and he did.
I have never doubted his love for me and I hope I never do!
Now I want to hear your story of how you met your Significant Other. Details!!! If you'd rather do your own blog post about it that's fine, just tell me.

I don't think I ever posted the pics of Maddie seeing her new room. She still loves it, it's definitely "her" domain!

You all know my girl does not show alot of emotion she was just breaking into a big grin here. She DOES love her room!

See the pink beanie gerbil Chickie gave her on the Dresser (left side). The bear from Cheeky sits on the top.

She is fascinated with that photo box.

After a hard day, Madison relaxes with her favorite babydoll "boy" in her new bed. ***Boy is the raggedy doll she FOUND in K-Mart but he is her hands down favorite and she won't go to sleep without him.

Here is the gift the marvelous Lynilu sent me (still can't do linkage - I did try!)

Lynilu gave me this explanation: "Having a symbol of the bear in the home gives protection to the occupants and helps them to withstand difficulties, to understand their lives, to heal all sorts of ills.
~ ~ ~Patti, I thought about your middle name. Many were available: Stunning; Dreamer; Loyal; Friend; Gentleness; Optimism; Warmth; Faith, to name just a few. But then I found the one that encompassed all. Your middle name is "Special."" I love it!

I received a surprise package yesterday from Lynilu!
I will have to take a picture of what she sent this week-end but they will definitely go into my Curio Cabinet.
I love them! Thank you so much Lynilu. You are the sweetest lady!
That was the good note, on a bad one Madison was still sick last night.
We had multiple visits from UpChuck (she couldn't even keep gatorade down) and then the Poonami started but she seems better this morning.
I am in the world's WORST mood though and woe unto anyone who crosses my path.
They will walk away with 1/4 of an ass you can bet on that!
*sigh* so it doesn't look like a very good week-end is in store for me.
"Paging Pity Party Of One". :P

While on our trip to M*yrtle Beach last week we ate at Crabby Mike's which is actually locted in Surfside Beach (between Myrtle Beach and Garden City Beach - confused? Good!).
At $21.95 per person it may sound steep but well, well worth it my friends (as Cheeky can attest). They have over 120 items on their buffet and i'm talking things like boiled shrimp, garlic steamed mussels, steamed oysters, scallops, prime rib, and fresh king crab legs. I only ate mussels, oysters, scallops and crab legs. Stacy ate crab legs and prime rib (lots of both) and two pieces of peanut butter pie for desert. Neither Madison nor Chandler would eat any seafood but as you can see below Maddie enjoyed "helping" Daddy with the crablegs.

This one has a pincer on it! Look out Daddy!

All this eating has me zonked out! Zzzzzzz....

As I mentioned I did enjoy our little beach trip. To me there is nothing more relaxing than laying on the beach with my toes in the sand. What relaxes you the most?
EDIT:
I know some of you laugh at my co-workers but can I just say I am surrounded by FREAKS? There is a guy I work with. Sometime after the New Year (can't remember EXACTLY when) he came out of the closet and began dating another guy who works here. Of course it generated a lot of gossip etc. Well last week or a few weeks ago (again fuzzy on the details) the guy who recently came out was arrested for stalking his estranged wife (Yes people he was married and then came out of the closet) and now she has a restraining order against him and there has been all sorts of drama. I saw him in the Cafe' a minute ago and... he scares me. He has such an intense, scary look/way about him. I can seriously see this guy going postal. *shivers*

Thank God it's Tuesday. Tuesday is a much friendlier day than Monday. Why is it when you are out of work for a day or two the minute you are back, everyone descends on you like locusts? They know you have voicemail messages, emails coming out the wazoo .... give me a little time to re-group, people!
I am a sleepy gal this morning. Due to some auditing issues I have to come in at 6a.m. this morning, Tomorrow and probably Thursday. The only positive thing is the traffic is VERY light at that time of the morning. Well as you can see I am the babbling brook, this is all i've got.
I do want to give a shout out to Shell at Shell's Thoughts (see blogroll I can't do linkage). She is collecting money for a blogpal, Carrie (of Random Ramblings) whose precious kitty Mufassa passed away two weeks ago and she is having a memory stone done at the ASPCA which i'm sure that $ will go to help other animals in need. Hat's off to both of those thoughtful, kind, compassionate Texas girls.
Are you a cat person or a dog person? I'm both I guess. Being that I have both. Cat's are easier if you have to go away for a day or two but I do love my little Reilly bug. He is so sweet to cuddle on and play fetch with. He is so devoted to me and he really cheers me up when i'm having a bad day. Thank God for Pets!