However, this post seems to counteract the theme I've been trying to establish. You see, instead of smoking a carton of cigarettes on my trip, I actually abstained from smoking the entire trip (3 days). No one else in my family smokes, my grandfather is an ex-smoker, and I'm always catching flack from my parents for smoking. So... nicotine free from Friday to Monday. It was an exercise in will power. Not the will power to not smoke, but the will power to not kill my relatives. I love my family, but you know how those gatherings can be. Now remove the cigarette factor and add my less than normal sleeping habits... let's just say it could have gone a lot worse.
It's an 8 hour trip, and I had just gotten off of work at 0600 hrs then met my parents at noonish. I was able to sleep the entire way. Not much to see along the way other than kudzu and a bridge. So no pictures of the trip itself (you're not missing anything).
My grandparents have a dog. I don't remember it's name. This is the dog.
Saturday was spent feeding cattle and stacking wood. You know, stuff that people do when they're not blogging or making batch edits from a wedding shoot. The farm house has a wood furnace, hunting land, and a well. So I know where I'm going when the Apocalypse comes in 2012. Also we played a little game known as hit some balls with a big plastic bat. My brother the athlete, ladies and gentlemen:
And Uncle Ron
Sunday: Easter service at the local Methodist church. I'm not a Methodist myself, but I've been to many services and I must say that they can be as dry as astronaut ice cream. This one on the other hand was actually a little entertaining. Especially considering that the pastor is 96 years old (not a comical exaggeration). Easter egg hunt for the kids and a huge pot luck dinner. Ham, stuffing, deviled eggs, hashbrown casserole, green beans with meat in them, mashed potatoes, some other stuff. It was awesome; trust me. Just ask my brother, Adam.
All in all, it was a good trip. It was nice to get away for a little bit... would of been nicer if I could've toasted a lung, but that made it sort of a vacation from my asthma as well.
Travel tip: When in southern Missouri or anywhere else within the Highland Dairy distribution area, be sure to pick up their french onion dip. It's awesome, and we don't get it here in Tennessee.
It was great to see everyone again. Always a pleasure. Everyone say "cheese".
