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With a due date of November 7th quickly approaching, I’ve read that I am supposed to be wrapped up in a flurry of activity getting ready for the big day. That’s not really happening ’round here. Partly, because I am as stingy with my limited supply of energy as Scrooge McDuck was with the coal and partly because I’ve probably forgotten all the things I am supposed to be getting done. Oh well, ignorance is bliss and so is enjoying a quiet Sunday of football and crock pot chili before the mayhem sets in.

One thing that I have accomplished is getting up-to-date on posting pictures. I’ve found that when you stop taking pictures, it becomes a much easier task to maintain. Thanks to my dad for using my camera to document all the wonderful gifts we got from sweet sweet people who came out to our shower in the pouring down rain.

And speaking of gifts and of Scrooge, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Disney on making the first Christmas movie ever that I don’t want to see. I’m not even sure how that is possible. Thankfully, there are still plenty of good Christmas movies at my fingertips. Namely, The Nightmare before Christmas. Its perfect because you can start watching it now and not get those sighs from people who think Labor Day is too early to put out Christmas decorations. Snobs.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, chances are, you are one of my beloved Southern friends – bless your heart – and unfortunately, there’s no one thing down here to compare a Wawa to.

Essentially, its a convenience store. And yes, convenience stores are everywhere and, well, that’s kind of the point. But how many of you would consider your neighborhood convenience store the place to buy milk between trips to the grocery store? Or a viable dining option at lunch time?

When I first moved here, I was headed home from work. I stopped for gas. When I was done at the pump (which I had to PUMP MYSELF, ugh!), I went inside to grab a carton of milk. Every one in there was expired. Not I’ll-never-use-this-by-the-date-because-its-only-2-days-away expired. No. Full on This-carton-was-delivered-when-Multiples-were-still-in-style expired.

I went home and pouted, but didn’t give up. After all, we have QuikTrip and Publix here. If you love QuikTrip’s coffee and convenience and you crave Publix deli and dairy, then you would walk into Wawa and feel like you had come home. You wouldn’t even care if you had to tell someone you were going to Wawa and had to actually say “Wawa” out loud because you’d already be thinking about your buttered roll and coffee.

At first I just hoped Wawa would expand. I’ve seen one outside Richmond, VA. They wouldn’t have too much further to go. But Wawa actually is based around a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, so there is only so far they can carry that milk, I guess. So then I tried to imagine alternatives and the best solution I came up with was “Publix Express” which was basically a little baby Publix, that could even sell gas, that carried your basic snacks, a full line of dairy and the best of the best from the Pubix deli.

So after putting this much thought into – I’ve already rambled over 300 words here about it – you would think I would be more alert when something along these lines came into fruition.

A Pix opened on my way to/from work just before Christmas in front of Publix. Its a gas station and its not QuikTrip, so I pretty much ignored it. Until today when I thought – Pix is a weird name…its like a shortened version of “Publix”…and then I looked a little more closely at the sign and GOLLY! It’s Publix’s gas station and convenience store.

I didn’t have time to go in, as I was on my way to work, but I plan to…soon…I’ll let you know how it turns out.

For the record, since I suppose I will have to root for someone to turn left better than the others, I’m rooting for hometown boy Martin Truex. I don’t even think he’s in the hunt or the dash or the dart or whatever the kids call what is essentially the NASCAR playoffs, but I think I’ll be slightly more respected by fellow fans than if I spend the whole day looking for Ricky Bobby.

Then again, is that really the admiration I am looking for?

Wooo! I like to party!

But will it actually make me post any more frequently?

George moved.

We invited.

What have you been up to?

We got there just early enough to catch a few empty stools at a side bar where no one had set up camp yet. We had the bar to our back, the music to our front and the restrooms about three feet away. Between great music, accessible drinks and super people-watching we couldn’t help but have a good time.

We have a neighborhood pool of our own.

We probably even had a Memorial Day barbeque at that pool in our neighborhood.

The problem is, the Ruckers don’t live in our neighborhood, and really, what is a neighborhood Memorial Day barbeque without the Ruckers?

Red Stripe is also the beverage for which we searched through the tub of ice. We risked frostbite and missing digits in order to inbibe that Jamacian brew and get into the spirit of the Caribbean Festival.

While there was nothing resembling organization at my second adventure in the Paul M Summer Tour Series, there were LOTS of feathers to make up for that.

It was also my first outing on the Paul M Summer Tour Series. Pretty good time.

We are anxiously awaiting the next scheduled adventure.

It’s finally time for grillin’ with the Ruckers. Summertime rules!

Happy Hunting!