Frank's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Policeman's Ball, Ron & Heathers Wedding, Big Savage Backpack

I've been delinquent in my blogging due to final exams and general laziness. So this post is to make up for the weekends I've missed since Halloween.

Nov 7th - Brokeback Buono's Birthday. For Frank's birthday, Dionne and I decided to make him a 4Runner cake. Those of you who watched the new season of Southpark will understand - see Francis is a huge Southpark fan, as are the rest of us in the office. In season 10, episode 4, Satan has a Super Sweet 16 Birthday party, at which there was supposed to be a Ferari cake. Satan got an acura cake instead. Frank loved the 4runner cake. Dionne, Jorge, and I spent several hours making it. It's totally sweet, if I do say so myself.


Nov 11th & 12th - We hiked Duncan Knob. I enjoyed the hike, I'd like to do it again in the spring or summer. It was pouring rain for the second day, and we were racing daylight the first day, so I didn't get many pictures from this hike. The weather held out until after we made dinner and drank a bit around the campfire, then it poured all night while we were in our tents. It was an optimal situation. Keith, Ron S., Terri, Ellen, Ted F, and I made that trip.



Nov 22nd to 26th - Thanksgiving weekend - Dad, Marianne, Shawn, and I made the 600 mile trek to Aunt Sue and Uncle Ernie's in Anderson, SC. The weather was beautiful, the food was great, and the farm makes you want to move down south. I love it down there. I haven't seen Uncle Mike and Aunt Renee, Robin and Larry, and Aunt Peggy in years. It was great to see everyone, and it was great to relax around the compound and just drink and chat the day away. Wish we could do it every year. I hope they're blessed with many more years in good health. On the way back from Anderson, I stopped to see Uncle Tom and Uncle Dave in Wilkesboro, NC. We went to see the new Bond movie and went out to dinner. It was a good time. To see more pictures from down south, click on the album below:

Thanksgiving 2006

Dec 2nd - Franklin Twp Policeman's Ball - Emari, my best friend from high school, invited me to join her and her boyfriend Micah at the policeman's ball. Her dad is the chief of police in our hometown, and we figured it would be fun to go out for the night. We had a great time. The food was decent, the open bar was flowing and the music was rocking. Anthony and I wrapped up the night at Gleason's with Paul.








Dec 9th - Ron & Heather's Wedding - I must say that everyone looked great at the wedding reception. It was held at Oregon Ridge Park's Lodge. The afternoon started off with appetizers and an open bar, then progressed to dinner, re-affirmation of the vows, and dancing. Tuna and Mary were showing the crowd how to do the Macarena, and then we all did the hokey pokey and the chicken dance. Ted shook his tail feather to the floor and then jigged out a mountain man rendition of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". The African-American DJ watched on with his mouth agape. He didn't realize real hillbillies still existed. Ron and Heather looked wonderful and their vows were very sweet. They danced to John Denver's Annie's Song, it was cornily appropriate. Very pretty song. Fun was had by all. Shame Keith couldn't make it, I would have loved to see him dressed up. Tuna behaved himself and Fern didn't have to whap him with her purse the entire afternoon.








Dec 16th & 17th - Big Savage Backpack - Keith, Tuna, Ted, Ellen, Jada, Kisses, and I began our assault on Big Savage Mountain from the north - at St John's Rock. The weather on Saturday was a bit chilly, but sunny. It was perfect weather for pacing it out on the trail. The trail was overgrown, but because the leaves were down, we were able to see the blazes pretty clearly. I don't know that we would have had such an easy time in the summer. The briers hang out into the trail and tear your clothes, your pack, and your skin. I'd recommend jeans and thick flannel for this trail in the winter. The views were fleeting, we had a few good overlooks from the powerline crossings. The best part of the trail was High Rock tower. We spent the night around mile marker 11. Sunday we hiked out the last 6 miles. The stories and jokes around the campfire Saturday night were loud and boisterous, to say the least. We had no concern about other people because there weren't any. We passed one hunter on the trail Saturday, about 50 yards from the road where he parked his truck. He was carrying a gun. It was a little disconcerting, but luckily we make enough noise that a hunter couldn't possibly confuse us for wildlife - except Tuna maybe. He looks like a wild Tuna. And Ted kinda resembles a turkey. When we got to High Rock tower on Sunday, Ellen and I took one look at the Do Not Enter sign and started up the stairs. It was windy and cold at the top, but the view was amazing. The pictures in the album show the views. I'm not sure of what the pictures are of, but my captions are my best guess. We missed a few people on this hike. Hopefully we'll get the whole crowd on the next one. For the record, the pugs made the full 17 miles with ease. They are sure turning in to fine hiking dogs. Click on the album to see more pictures from the hike:

Big Savage Trail