This past week I was out of town for my annual PA conference. This was held in Gatlinburg, TN. My first night there, in the room above me, the kids from Hell decided that they were going to make their last night there one to remember. After three calls to the front desk and the clock striking 5am they finally went to sleep. My second night a storm moved in and created 106mph winds. This would be classified as a category II hurricane. Isn’t this what everyone goes to the mountains for? A nice autumnal hurricane? My third night my phone rings at 1:30am. Jenny calls and not because she is up to something. Turner had a fever of 101 degrees. She was obviously upset and concerned so I provided some phone medicine and the next day he saw his doctor and we think he might be teething.
His current weight is 15lbs 12oz and gettiing bigger by the minute. When I got home I hardly recognized him. He is geting HUGE! But he is still so darn cute and happy. Outside of Gatlinburg are either the Smokey Mntns or Pigeon Forge,which if you love fudge, outlet shopping, go carts and/or t-shirt shops you might find yourself in heaven. Anyways I choose the outlet stores. In particular Osh Kosh By Gosh. Man do they make some cute clothes for these kids.
I have no idea how to by clothes for kids this small. So I asked the sales lady and away we went. She loved me! After about 6 outfits sized for him to grow into (of course he might be through with these next week at his rate) she went to the “back”, which is code for “sucker” and brought out some Christmas attire for our little friend. I don’t know what Santa is bringing to him, but he will look good getting it that’s for sure. Is it bad when after you leave a store you hear the sales people cheer and give each other high fives and then you turn around and see that they put a “closed” sign on the door and took off for the afternoon?
The mountains were of course beautiful. The leaves were again in full color with a rich portrait of yellows, reds, oranges, and greens. The temp was cool and it did rain for two days. I love it up there and when I win the lottery I will by a little cabin somewhere and whittle away the afternoons, at least until the crowds leave and I can hit the outlets. The conference went well. This year I am on the state board of directors for our PA association so I had some “official” duties to attend to once these were finished it was time to relax, learn and catch up with some friends. I did manage a hike in the Smokeys and will have some pics up within the next couple of days.
It was a good conference but I was glad to get home and see my wife and son. They really are the two best people in the world…
All the best,
PJ