Parrot Mountain

The only thing you really want to do after a tournament weekend is head home.  But "J" really wanted to go to Parrot Mountain.  I was wary because Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge "attractions" are usually pretty crappy.  But I was pleasantly surprised by Parrot Mountain.  And even though we got home really late, I was glad we went.

Parrot Mountain is sort of an exotic bird refuge.  They rehabilitate and provide homes for unwated exotic birds.  Most of the birds can fly away but they don't.  The place was really clean and I think the birds seemed very happy. 

 We all had so much fun holding and feeding the birds.

 The cockatoos were our favorites.

This one snuggled with me.  SNUGGLED.  I was in love.  I would have totally tried to smuggle it out.

This guy or girl really liked attention.

The Macaws are so pretty but they aren't as fun or nice as the Cockatoos.

Look at that beak.  Yikes.

 We finally dragged her away from the big birds and went to visit the Lorakeets.

This one licked my hand for far too long.

This guy was in the baby bird nursery and he was for sale.  I'll admit he was charming.  "J" and I both want a bird.  But considering they can live 60 years...I think it's too late for me to become a responsible bird owner. 

Gatlinburg

We just returned from is quickly becoming my least favorite place on earth, Gatlinburg, TN.  Don't get me wrong...I love the Smoky Mountains.  But Gatlinburg is the trashiest, nastiest place.  I hate it.  The food is bad, there are confedarate flags everywhere, the traffic is worse than Atlanta, its just
AWFUL.  But I fear as long as my kid plays Volleyball we will have to go to G-Burg for tournamanets.

But we were able to find fun moments and make some new friends- like these guys.

I doubt pizza crust is the best meal for them...but if its good enough for us...

We hung out with the creek-crew for a long time until it got too dark to see.  It was also a nice way to avoid returning to a hotel room that looked a lot nicer on-line.

I would spend the next day like this.  Perched high above the gym floor recording the games.

We were lucky to have a morning wave so the girls could hang-out in the afternoon.  While we were waiting to meet up with the others I forced my child to take a photo.

And threatened bodily harm if she didnt smile.

It was a fun afternoon.  The girls did an escape room and D and I managed to convince a few other moms and dads to join us for a moonshine tasting.  It wasn't as fun as last years tasting but it was still a good time.  I especially enjoyed seeing the other moms and dads throwing back shots.

Look how darling these girls are.  They have definitely made a challenging season into a good one.

This fellow was a hoot.  The girls all tried to debate him...But I kept telling them it was pointless to argue with an insane person.  He wasn't just villianizing "White Christian Pastors" but this looney was a full on flat earther.

Now back to why I hate Gatlinburg.  This Liquor and Cigarette shop was open before 7:00 am.  AND it had customers.  Also...I thought all the Radio Shacks closed years ago.  This day would require a very early start.  We had to be at the gym by 7:00

You know you are playing in TN when....(yes those are camo uniforms)

After a fun afternoon of togetherness our girls came together the next day and placed second in our division.  They played beautifully.

Oh we came so close ...but the other team came back and won it.  I would always rather see a good game than a winning game.  And this was a great game.
 

We came home to full blown spring.  It is so lovely here in the spring.

 It looked like pink snow in the school parking lot.

These heirloom daffodils came from my grandmas yard and are finally establishing themselves on my front porch.

 

The Week of "T"

Its been a stunner of a week for the boy.  He turned 16, applied for his first job, had his first job interview AND landed his first job, got accepted into a local college where he will be taking college classes his junior year of high school AND he got his drivers license.


This face just old me he got the job.  I am so proud.  He will be working at a very fast paced, very delicious, very popular, very customer service oriented, and slightly anti-LGBTQ chicken franchise.  This happened just a few days after his birthday.  I really hope it goes well because damn!  Insurance for a 16 year old boy is expensive.  And food for a 16 year old boy is expensive.  I'll be happy for him to have a little cha-ching in his pocket that we didn't put there.

But lets back up.  First we had to have the saddest (my words- not his) birthday celebration ever.  It was sad because I literally forgot it was his birthday.  I thought it was the following week.  Plus he wanted an expensive gift...so he opted to give up a celebration with friends to make sure he could get the one gift he wanted.  So the whole shindig was pretty low-key (and planned the evening before). But he was happy and that's all that matters.  He has always been very gracious and never asks for much. He designed his Publix cake on-line and we picked it up just in time.  And for once I wasn't sad that he didn't want homemade.

  I think I should have put 16 candles on the cake.  Next year I'm going full fire hazard.

 It's only soda....but birthdays call for the fancy glasses.

 Thanks Auntie and Uncle...

 He did get this cool pair of polarized glasses from his sister.  Now he's ready to drive in style.

 Drumroll please....its the VR set he's been dreaming of

  I have to admit.  It's really pretty cool.

We have all tried it out.  I'm just waiting for the one with gloves so you can use your hands and feel things.  I don't think I'll ever get my basement playroom back.  It has been permanently rearranged for optimal VR play.

"T" trying on a new style and becoming one step closer to his inner 60 year old.