Native North Carolinian

Is it possible? Will winter finally visit the deep south this year? I’m beginning to think it might! I am sitting here typing this in long sleeves and considering getting out some sweatpants. And at the pants couple of football practices, I have actually shivered! It’s colder here right now than it is in Illinois! How crazy is that? Now, admittedly, “cold” is relative. It’s currently 66, but it is also windy and rainy. And last week it was in the 80s. I dare say a 15 degree drop in on week constitutes a cold snap, don’t you?

The thing is, we haven’t had winter is several years now, and I am just not used to it anymore. I’m looking forward to it, don’t get me wrong, because my sweaters have been folded on the shelf for far too long, and I love me some sweaters. On the other hand, I sorta had plans for some family camping adventures after football season, and that definitely calls for warmer weather than we have just now–especially considering that 55 degrees is the coldest rating I have seen on sleeping bags locally. At this rate, we can maybe do some hiking, but not much camping. And of course, I bought a tent instead of outdoor shoes.

Do any of you have suggestions for fun outdoor activities that are fun for all ages? And by all ages, I mean two through sixty? Tell me about them in the comments, please, and include important stuff I need to know, like what equipment we need and how much it costs.

Totally taking this idea from the pictures on Zemanta, because they are reminding me of something I wanted to tell you about anyway! Can you guess that might be trains? I have always loved the sound of trains, and around here, I get to hear them frequently. There is the 2am train that runs through about 3 times a week. I used to enjoy that one when I was an insomniac. The tracks are so far from my house that I don’t get to hear the trains go by in the daytime, but the ones in the night are a different story.

And this year, I am enjoying the sounds of the train during football practice. The park where the kids practice is quite close to a set of tracks, and so I get to hear the whistle three times a week.

So, how close are you to the train tracks? And do you like it or not? Why or why not?

I really, really enjoyed my time in Florida. I always enjoy going, but I always enjoy coming home as well. And do you want to know how I knew I was home? I took this photo in the Charlotte airport:

You know, it might be possible to spot a rocking chair in airports outside of North Carolina, though I doubt it. But you’ll certainly not see people actually using them.

Just one more reason that I like calling North Carolina home.

Well, if you have watched the news lately, you know Hanna was mostly a bust:  all bluff and bluster but not much trouble. We lost a day of football games, which I spent in leisure pursuits. My only regret is that I lacked the fundage to spend the day at Wal-Mart, LOL!

In other news, I am heading out of town this week, and since my laptop is deskbound, I will not be updating in my absence. Unless I get a new laptop, which I am technically NOT giving up on until midnight Wednesday, but, it is looking less likely as the minutes tick by. Apparently the fam thinks eating is more important that a new computer for mom. Go figure.

So, expect to see me again a week from tomorrow!

One day, I will start a blog and all teh titles will come from songs, LOL. But that is not today. Today, I am getting ready to greet Hanna. I’m pleased to report that they are now predicting a small storm, with winds around 30MPH, at a time when most, if not all, of my family will be asleep. That means prep is easy!

• Buy bread and peanut butter so we an eat if the power goes out.
• Recharge the MP3 player and check out some free audio books, so I can be entertained in case of same.
• Worry until 6pm when my husband will be home from work and off the roads, but only if it starts picking up before he gets here.

Did you know, and if you didn’t hold on, I’ll tell you, that the last time traffic statistics were released, my area was in the top of the list for accidents? Well, it was. And the way people drive, it’s no real surprise. I mean, I always groan when I look at auto insurance quotes, and I do have to pay more than I have ever paid in other locations, but somehow, I chalked it up to the laws here in North Carolina. No. It’s here. In my area: Accident Central.

I onder how much of that is do to tourists? Not in any way to slam them, I am really curious. Does our accident rate go up during tourist season or not? And if it does cycle, why do we pay the same rates all year? Cheap Enquiring minds want to know!