Saturday, April 5, 2008

April Fools' Day

From E~

As school is coming to a close (only a month left), and tests and projects are piling up my roommate and I decided to play a small little April Fools' joke on a favorite professor of ours. Let's just say that our professor is a sarcastic male, is not a big fan of pink (or any bright color for that matter), and has been used by another favorite female professor as an example for not liking hugs (it's an inside joke that would be hard to explain on here, sorry). Anyway, my roommate and I recruited two other female friends and decided to "decorate" his office/hallway for AFD. We collected hot pink and pink camo wrapping paper, pink balloons and streamers, and made signs to put up everywhere. Luckily, the security guards know and trust us because they didn't seem at all bothered when they caught us decorating after hours in the science building. Actually, they just laughed and told us to have a good night. Well two hours later, after a fellow classmate came to witness the mischief taking place, we were finished with the pinkness. We had a lot of fun and took several pictures that night.

The story doesn't stop there, however. Early the next morning, I received text messages from several friends asking if I had anything to do with the professor's door. I claimed ignorance and also that I was still in bed, which placated a few but others had already known of my plans and congratulated me and my band of mischief makers for doing a wonderful job. As I came into the building that morning, I went to peruse our handiwork acting as if this was the first time I had seen it. It worked. The professor asked me a few questions about it, and I feigned ignorance again. Though I did show my amusement as had many other students, teachers, and staff members (several took pictures and one professor actually hugged the victim). The day went on without the four culprits being caught until 5pm that night.
I was preparing to go with a club I am part of to do some service work when the victim asked me to come look at one piece of the decorations. He pointed to an 'E' within an acronym JECA and told me that it was my name. (Truthfully it was, it was the first initial of all the culprits' names- just to help him out). I tried to feign ignorance again, but the coop was up. Apparently, the witness to our mischief the night before was offered extra points if he gave up the culprits. He did, and after cornered, one of our crew confirmed his answer.


Luckily, our professor wasn't angry, but actually enjoyed the attention because no other professor and a joke played on them that day. He kept the balloons to pop when he was frustrated, the heart cut-out labeled "what's missing", a sarcastic hug sign, and finally edited another sign and gave it to the female professor who nurtured our mischievious side. (Sign originally read: "Hug Department: Always Open" and was changed to "Hug Department: Closed due to bankruptcy"). Everyone got a kick out of the joke and it was a great stress reliever for those involved. I think we did a pretty good job!

Friday, April 4, 2008

I met John Rich (from Big & Rich)!!!!!



On my last day off, I went with my friend Susan on a catering job for a photo shoot. I met John Rich from the country duo Big & Rich! He is a really nice guy-- he is shorter than me and pencil thin. I made him a ham, spinach, green pepper and onion omelette with salsa and habenero sauce for breakfast and steak, chicken and shrimp fajitas for lunch. I didn't have a chance to get a picture with him but I did get my picture taken in his vintage Smokey and the Bandit TransAm!
If the vet thing doesn't work out, I told Susan that I wanted to become a member of her Enchanted Kitchen catering team. She has worked with a lot of country artists like Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry and Brooks & Dunn. (Kix Brooks is one of our large animal clients at the clinic) It was fun-- if I meet anyone else famous, I will post some more pics.
Love you guys!

Love, Julie (the vet/caterer to the stars!)

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Julie and Josh got a hot tub!

Julie and Josh were really excited about their tax return, and with the money, they wanted to buy a hot tub for their house. Well unfortunately, their return wasn't as large as they wanted, so our ever loving aunt decided to send them a starter kit. And, wow, Julie and Josh are on the box! Thank you Aunt Tish!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

The Mountains

I had a great trip to the mountains (except for the stomach virus at the end)! On the way to the mountains, I thought it would be fun to go on a scavenger hunt, so I made one up the night before. It is amazing how fast the trip went on the way up there! It was a lot of fun, too! I will attach a copy of the list and some pictures.


Scavenger Hunt
To help pass the time until we get to our cabin, here is a list of items to search for!
Take a picture of all the items you find.
Good luck and be creative!

“Camp Discovery” sign
Scrapbook Warehouse billboard
Fork in the road
1234 in consecutive order
Caney Fork River
TTU sign
Construction cones
South Carolina license plate
Mile Marker 373
JFG Coffee Warehouse
Another state’s license plate other than SC
Motorcycle
Area of water other than previous
Falcon
3 yellow vehicles

Knoxville Zoo
“Next Rest Area” sign
Ma and Pop store
Church
DollyWood sign
Wal-Mart
Traffic Light #2
Old Model Car
Sports related billboard
“See Rock City” sign
Dixie Stampede
Cows
V W Beetle
“Emergency Stop” sign
North Carolina
Water fountain
Aquarium sign

Barn
Holiday Inn
Construction barrels
UT sign
Weigh Station OPEN
Exit 407
American Flag
Kangaroo
State Park sign
Murphy’s Donkey (homophone + another name for donkey)




We didn't do many practical jokes to one another. On Tuesday night I knew that someone had done something in our room, but I wasn't sure what it was, so Alison and I spent some time looking around to make sure everything was still in tact. I checked the hair dryer for flour, the bed for anything foreign, etc. As far as we knew, everything was just fine. It wasn't until Wednesday morning that I figured out their joke. As I was straightening my hair, I felt a sting on my thigh, but I thought nothing of it until I felt a second sting. I unbuttoned my jeans and when I pulled them down, there was a wasp in there! I had been stung twice! I told Alison and told her all I knew was that vinegar and baking soda helped with bee stings. She was racking her brain and then told me to put deodorant on it. That's when it hit me - they had taken our deodorant! After Alison went downstairs and told them what happened and finally told the girl we knew she took it, we got the deodorant back and it helped with my wasp stings. I offered the deodorant back to the girls, but they didn't want it after that! I had never been stung by a wasp before, but now I know that deodorant helps! (And the redness and bumps stay around for a while. I still have the bumps and sting marks!) Anyhow, it was fun and I'm glad that we went. (But I am also glad to be home!)

Oh, Boy! (or Girl!)


When we went to Julie and Josh's for Easter, we did not know we would be visiting the Brokeback Aquarium! Julie was under the impression that both of the turtles were male but now we are not so sure... Josh was concerned about how "stiff" the top turtle's tail was once all was said and done.














Easter

For Easter this year we did not have our traditional Easter egg hunt. We pondered the idea, but we knew it would not be the same, so we did without. We did have a nice time, however. We all went to Julie and Josh's since Julie was on call and we ate dinner and played Wii. And the best part of all was that Julie was not called out!










Saturday, March 22, 2008

Catch up!

Hello! I just want to catch everyone up on all the things that have been going on. I haven't been very good at updating the blog, obviously, so I have to go all the way back to Allie's birthday! She, like Max, got her own special treats. She started off with a pig's ear and then got a Munchy bone which Boo tried to take from her!













As everyone knows, March is a busy month for our family. Although we did not get to celebrate as we usually do, we did celebrate both Emily's and Moon's birthday.

Emily was very good to Moon and made him a homemade cherry pie! It turned out wonderfully! Moon also had a chocolate cake since we had 14 people over!



I kind of kept mom's tradition on St. Patrick's Day. I did not make anything green for dinner, but I did make a green pancakes for my class. I did not tell them what I was doing and when I handed out the first batch of pancakes, I told them they could eat them. No one said they didn't like them or wouldn't try them, but they were a little hesitant. Everybody ate two pancakes! I asked if anyone knew what they were and one student said pancakes, but I told them it was actually leprechaun food to which one little girl said "It does kind of taste funny!"


And now the last thing I want to share.... Since it has been so nice outside lately, we have taken the dogs for several walks. We were just walking them in the pasture, but Emily called the Braziers and they said we could walk in their fields. Mom, I thought you would enjoy seeing Max having a good time on our walk.










And just because I like this picture....

I will update the blog again after Easter and my trip to the mountains.

Take care! I love you! ~Abbey