Things I Miss...

.....about Alabama.

We have moved a couple of times....from Alabama to Texas, then from Texas to Tennessee.  While I don't think I ever want to move back to Alabama (my hair doesn't like the weather there), I do hope to move back to Texas one day.

In Alabama, I was a legal secretary and worked for one of the largest law firms in the state.  I loved my job and the attorneys I worked for, but more importantly, I loved being in downtown Birmingham every day.  I'm a city mouse, even though the hubster tries to convert me at every turn.  In Texas, we lived in a city just outside of Dallas but eventually moved to a loft.....downtown....Dallas. :-)  But more about Texas tomorrow....see that, I'm giving you something to look forward to! ;-)

Today, I thought I would share a few things that I miss about Alabama....it is first in the alphabet and my OCD demands that I go in alphabetical order. :-)

Dreamland BBQ....


The best bar-b-que in the State of Alabama.  BBQ in the south is vinegar-based and is so tart and tangy!  YUM!

Sloss Furnace...

The best place to be on Halloween (a great haunted trail), or really any other time.  It is one of the most haunted places in Birmingham and is chocked full of history!  It is said that if ghosts are present electronic equipment goes crazy.  Every time I would take photos at Sloss, my batteries would be dead within 15-20 minutes.

The view of Birmingham from the law firm window (we were on the 6th floor)...


I know, I know....I used the overused "tilt-shift" action, but it's still cool!

 My parents...


We are all Alabama fans, but we keep it on the "DL".

My sisters... 


Yes, we have the same  parents. No, we do not look anything alike.  I did tell Stacy for years that she was found in the yard and we took her in.  She cried every time...ba ha ha...snark, snark, snark...that's what older sisters do, terrorize the younger ones!  No, we did not plan our clothing choice that day.  It truly was a fluke!

My youngest son...


Look at that hair...what a hot mess...sheesh!  Wait, not his, mine...this is about me, people!

And of course, a few of my friends...


But you've seen them here before! ;-)







34 comments

  1. Benita, I got to visit Birmingham last year for the first time. My husband and I went for the Alabama slaughtered Texas A&M game. We had so much fun and what a beautiful city!! It was so funny to me how we walked around with our A&M shirts on and people said, "Roll Tide" every time they walked past us.

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    1. Stacey, I will apologize for the Alabama fans…sometimes they are an egotistical bunch (an understatement…LOL). The hubster is an Aggie (Corp of Cadets) and his dad played for Auburn, so we have fun poking at each other about the games. He will walk around the house saying “roll damn tide” using his best country-hick voice…LOL But some of the fans take it too far….like the guy who poisoned the trees at Auburn. We do not claim him. I suppose what people need to know about Alabama is that the Space Center in Huntsville and college football are the only things they have….with college football being in first place.  You are either an Alabama or an Auburn fan and there is nothing else…LOL. The city is turning and they are trying to do so much more with it…it has a wonderful arts community and beautiful old buildings that they are turning into lofts and condos. There are also some great music venues and wonderful restaurants. Frank Stitts owns and runs several of the restaurants. I’m glad y’all had a good time, with the exception of the “roll tiders”. ;-)

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  2. No matter where you live, I have to say, you have the most beautiful smile! Looks just Julia Robert's smile.
    Brenda

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    1. Brenda, that is so sweet...thank you so much! I always feel like no one can see my face because of my mouth! :-)

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  3. Such sweet pictures of your memories! Thanks for sharing with us!

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    1. Thank you AnnMarie…you can tell we are an Italian bunch…LOL We have the noses and the hips aren’t far behind…LOL

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  4. How sweet Benita. You and your sisters all have that movie star smile. You all are a great looking bunch!
    Your son is so handsome. Looking forward to Texas tomorrow. Have a great day today.
    Kris

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    1. Thank you so much Kris....we all have the mouth, that's for sure. Everyone tells me mine is the biggest...LOL. Have a great day!!

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  5. Love all those picture's,sweet. Your grandaughter is as cute as a button !! Remind's me of my daughter when she was little, blonde hair, blue eye's and alway's tan from being outside constantly. I'm glad you were able to visit with her, did some of your sass rub off on her or her on you ??? Cutie pie. Hope you get home soon and get closed on the house !!! Hug's my friend,TT btw your parent's are the sweetest looking couple , how many year's have they been married ?

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    1. Thank you ma'am!! Gia is precious, but I'm a little biased. ;-) She is half French (from her mom) and half Italian. There are not many blonde hair, blue-eyed Italians...LOL. We really enjoyed our visit...thank you. She was already sassy...anything I give her gets her in trouble...LOL Thank you for the sweet words about my parents....they have been married 55 years. I hope you have a wonderful day girl! Hugs!!!

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  6. Here's a, big RTR for you. Our weather definitely makes any hairstyle a challenge. Going to one of our unique event venues for an alumni get together in a few weeks, we do have, several. Don't forget Chris Hastings Hot & hot Fish Club, he beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America..

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    1.  Thank you!! And yes ma’am…with Italian hair, it is definitely a challenge! OMGosh…Hot & Hot is such a great restaurant…I cannot believe I forgot about that! Thank you for reminding me! I can’t believe that football is literally right around the corner!! Time for some tailgating!! :-)

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  7. You have a lovely family, Benita! How many younger siblings do you have? You don't look old enough to have grown children already, lady. My husband's family is from TX, they are in Mesquite, Seguin, and Port Lavaca. I lived in El Paso for a year and a half, that's as far into TX, I've ever been. Looking forward to hearing about your trip! Eating at an authentic Southern BBQ joint is on my bucket list!

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    1. Awww, thank you so much! I just have the two younger sisters. There is 1 and 1/2 years between me and Annette and 6 years between me and Stacy. Annette is the one sitting closest to me. I have two sons and Stacy has 1 son. For Italians, we are a very small family...LOL. And thank you, you are so sweet to say that! I know where Mesquite is...we've driven through it many times, but not the other 2 cities. Did you know that the drive from El Paso to Dallas is longer than the drive from Dallas to Birmingham, AL? That is insane to me...for a state to be that large! LOL You most definitely need to have some Southern BBQ....you will love it! Hugs!!

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  8. Love the share-I have never been to Alabama but maybe some day

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    1. Thank you ma’am. Just prepare yourself for the humidity! It’s a killer!!

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  9. You may think, that you and your sisters don't look anything alike. But you are all beautiful!

    Tessa

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    1. Awww, thank you so much Tessa! While we don't think we favor at all, our voices are similar and so is our handwriting...LOL

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  10. I've never been to Alabama, but my mom went to the NASCAR race at Talladega and said it was the cleanest state she'd ever been in :)

    I think the only college football fans that are crazier than Bama are the "Buckeyes". There are very few houses in the suburbs, near Ohio State, that don't have a Buckeye flag out front and every single man, woman and child wear their jerseys on game day. The ones that don't, didn't grow up there. I was married to one, so I had to put up with that damn Buckeye flag in my yard every year. I'm a Trojan fan, because it's my family's alma mater, so that didn't go well LOL It was almost as bad as being a Wolverine.

    Your whole family is beautiful, including you :)

    xoxo

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    1. NASCAR? LOL…I can honestly say that is something I am totally not interested in and in the South, NASCAR is such a big deal…LOL. I have a friend who got in a fight with another chick at a race because the girl tore her Jeff Gordon sign…LOL They took it to the parking lot…LOL For the most part, Alabama is clean and is a beautiful state, but needs to move into the 21st century a little more solidly. Thank you so much, you are so sweet!

      I’ve never had the opportunity to be around Ohio State fans, but it is like that in Alabama on game day. Everyone has their Alabama or Auburn flags out…everywhere! No other ball team exists in the state…LOL. The hubster is an Aggie…he sits quietly in the corner…LOL Hugs!!!

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  11. What a wonderful post. I enjoyed your lovely pictures and hearing those sweet memories. I've never been to Alabama, but now I really want to visit one day. Blessings... :)

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    1. Dee, thank you so much! It has it's good points and bad points, but I think that is everywhere. :-) Have a wonderful evening! :-)

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  12. Well if you ever move back to Texas then we will be in neighboring states. I'm an Oklahoma girl.

    Hugs from Oklahoma,

    Valerie
    Cottage Making Mommy

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    1. You will have to let me know where in Oklahoma. We are in Texas quite a few times a year. We travel to Oklahoma when we can just so we can buy jerky from Robertson’s Hams! :-)

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  13. What a beautiful family! And your friends look a little mischievous, haha! I've never been to Birmingham but drove past when I took my daughter to a ballet intensive at U of A one time. I always have the song "Deacon Blues" in my head when I think of that school...hopefully you'll get the reference or else I'll feel really old...

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    1. Thank you so much Julie! My friends and I were extraordinarily mischievous! We all grew up together, went to the same school, lived in the same area, went to the same church....our girlfriend group was called "Real Magnolias". We stayed in trouble...LOL

      Steely Dan! One of my favorite "old school" bands...."they got a name for the winners in the world, I want a name when I lose, they call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me Deacon Blues". I have the song on my phone and on a CD in my car! :-) As a matter of fact, we were just chatting about this song the other night and what the name "Steely Dan" stands for! ;-)

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    2. Oh my gosh, you made my day, haha! My hubby is the biggest Steely Dan fan in the Midwest ;) Our kids even love them, and my husband and daughter saw them in concert a couple of years ago.
      That's really cool that you and your friends have been together for so long!

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    3. I’ve always liked them….they were very popular when I was in school…way back in the day! :-) Sheesh, I’m so dating myself….LOL. Thank you! We still see each other when we can and they come to visit occasionally.

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  14. I love this post and getting to see your family! And you 3 are gorgeous girls, your mom too--and your precious little granddaughter!

    I remember driving through Birmingham when I was a child and seeing the ironworks mills? Is that what they were? And several years we went to family reunions on a mountain there? There is a mountain, right? We stayed with an aunt and uncle who lived on the same street as, okay having a senior moment here, it was a scientist who was really big at the space center. Help, what was his name?

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    1. Dewena, thank you so much! You are sweet! Sloss was an ironworks mill in Birmingham and then there was US Steel in Ensley, that was a huge business back in the day. There are several mountains in Birmingham, you may be referring to Red Mountain and Vulcan is up on the hill. I can't think of who you are talking about, so we will have our senior moment together! :-)

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  15. You are always smiling! I love that! I have never been to Alabama. I don't think I would like the haunted place, but he city view is very nice. I am a country mouse though. ;-)

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    1. I don’t know why I smile so much…but I do frown…and scowl….just ask the hubster! :-) You could come visit me in the city and I would visit you in the country! And we could eat cheese and crackers on our respective porches, or balcony in the city. :-)

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  16. The only time I was in Alabama was on a quicky visit. Our nephew was getting married in Biloxi and we had all day to kill. We are trying to see all 50 states so we drove to Dauphin Island. We could tell a difference between Alabama and Mississippi!

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    1. Dauphin Island is nice…Alabama beaches are some of the prettiest with that white sugar sand! Hope you had a good time…and yes, there is a huge difference between Alabama and Mississippi…LOL

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