It is true that many of you reading this blog are in fact Wham-O haters, but for one day we must put aside our hatred and come together for the greater frisbee good to honor the man that brought us the Wham-O, which eventually brought us Discraft and the sport we know and love, Ultimate.

So take some time out of your day to honor the man by hucking it deep.

Hi Abby!

This weekend would certainly have not been the same without them.

We would also like to send a little shout out to our favorite wiener dog, Abby.Thanks for being our personal cuddle buddy and morning alarm clock.

Here’s to you Branston’s! And thanks Memphis (and Patrick Swayze) for the time of our lives.

Here's to you Branston's

From the previous reading I am sure it is clear that a trip to Memphis is not just about the sites, but rather a symbiotic relationship between the sights and tastes of the city. Our trip to Memphis was as much a food tour as anything else. In between all of our lovely adventures we nom’d on some of the best food possible.

After a day of road side food (chicken, chicken, and more CHICKEN!) we were very ready for a good filling lunch with Mr. Branston. Lucky for us Katy seems to have picked up her tour guide genes from the man. After our lovely jont around the city Mr. Branston took us to Mud Island, a mud deposit in the middle of the mighty Mississippi, for some upscale sandwiches and smoothies at Miss Cordelia’s Grocery. It seemed only fitting that Heidi and myself would order the Dolly Parton sandwich, heaping with bacon and turkey. Paige stuck with the smoothie…which being the pigs we are, Heidi and I also ordered.

After using all our energy for the most epic of surprises it was definitely time for a heaping amount Memphis’ signature eats…BBQ. Of course there are a multitude of BBQ restaurants in Memphis and most are argued to be the “best”. The Branstons choose to take us to their favorite in the city, Central BBQ. With a menu that could feed a whole nation, we found it hard to choose just one dish a piece to devour, so instead our lovely hosts put together a schmorgesborg of BBQ, including but not limited to wet ribs, dry hot wings, pulled pork sandwiches, short rib, mac and cheese, collard greens, and life changing BBQ nachos. Now that might sound like too much food for our group to handle, but let me assure you, that food was crushed. So much so, that we claimed victory over it with the time honored Cannino tradition of the victory star.

After all that food it was only fitting that we all pass out immediately from food induced comas, but because of the enlarging of our stomachs the night before, we woke up with an even grander appetite. Mama B’s motherly instincts kicked in to meet our insatiable appetites. The next day for lunch she prepared a picnic for us after our zoo trip complete with tablecloth and candle. Of course one lunch wouldn’t really do it for us, we required a little mid-day snack at the famous Huey’s downtown, where on top of great food, there is also great fun. Our activities included shooting toothpicks into the ceiling and tagging the walls in crayons. For dinner Mama B continued her quest to fill us up with HEAPING pizza. Two pieces and we were down for the count…again.

Saturday as our tour kicked into full gear so did our digestive system. When we weren’t paying tribute to Elvis or practicing our ping pong skills, we were eating. Mama B started us off right with a massive Branston style breakfast of quiche and cheesy grits (the first grits I have ever had seconds of). For lunch we made our way to Katy’s favorite digs, Memphis Pizza Cafe, where we ordered two large pizzas. Amazingly even Heidi kept up the eating pace of the table by devouring the required four slices in Rice record time. For a post pizza delight, we drove across  town to Jerry’s Sno(w) Cones (Jerry’s is such a Memphis secret that they lack a website but for a review of the small shanty see here).  Found by Lindsay Morris herself the three visitors took it upon ourselves to order in honor of her, the Supreme sno cone. For those of the north and Rita’s this would be referred to as a “gelati,” but unlike Rita’s the “snow” at Jerry’s is unlike any other I have ever had. Although I was sure I was in Memphis, this seemed more likely to have come straight from some fresh powder off the Rockies.

Now, any normal threesome of twenty-something females would have been absolutely full, but no, our appetites could not be quenched. We of course were still in thirst for some more life changing BBQ. It seems that Memphians may be the most brilliant food creators on the planet, combining our favorite ingredients into an all encompassing dish, BBQ nachos, the perfect melding of Mexican and Southern cooking. We had to have more, so we made our way over to the Bar-B-Q Shoppe for some nachos and ribs. After devouring these BBQ treats between just the three of us we proceeded to indulge ourselves with a little more of Mama Branston’s cooking, some delicious homemade soup. It was the perfect end note to symphony of delicious flavors courtesy of Memphis, TN. We recommend all and any of these wonderful locations. Happy Eating!

When visiting The River City (and I think you should), there’s a great deal to do and see, especially if you’re a music lover. Fortunately for us, we were under the leadership of life-time resident Katy B, who eagerly whipped out her Elon Tour Guide skills faster than Usain Bolt off the blocks in the 100m. Unfortunately for you, this khaki-donning, backwards-walking princess of Memphis is booked through the holiday season, due to high demand for Memphis Tourism Package #2, which is so great Billy Mays stepped down from his Oxy-Cloud to promote the package for the LOW LOW PRICE OF $59.99! (Too soon?)

After our grand entrance, we were informed that we had been upgraded to the ultra-exclusive O.O.Z. Crew Package© – 72 hours of rolling through Memphis VIP style. This was a big deal made bigger by the fact that Katy will soon be participating in M-Town Tours’ westward expansion to Missoula, Montana. In terms of wow-factor, jury is still out on what was better: our whirlwind taste of Memphis or the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Beijing – but since China used that lip-syncing girl and Katy brings the real deal TayTay style, I’m pretty sure Memphis will win. With the permission of Katy and M-Town Tours®, you are being allowed inside access on the O.O.Z. Crew Package – brace yourself, and consider this the best day ever.

Our first introduction to Memphis was a great one. After sweet-talking our way past the security guard, we made a quick stop at Rhodes College to check out the campus and use the bathrooms. Despite a college-viewbook style photoshoot, the three of us decided that “we couldn’t go here because there’s no people and Elon is better.” Amen. Our first lesson in Memphis was given to us by none other than Mr. B himself. After a quick overview of Mud Island and lunch at Ms. Cordelia’s, we got a shotgun Riverside drive tour on the way to the airport. (We also suggest that you visit the airport, if only to witness the scene of the greatest moment in history). As soon as Katy’s head stopped spinning from the surprise, we did the only thing we knew to do: throw around. Having had little hand-to-disc time in the past months, we were all concerned that Katy would be an epic embarassment – but, true to Branston form, she proved to all of Overton Park that you never forget your first love or how to huck it deep. The evening concluded with a little mother/daughter piano duet, Heidi playing the same Jewel song over and over, and a Central BBQ food feast “the likesa which this side-uh the Mississippi ain’t never seen!” No but really, it was disgusting. After throwing the Victory Star over our crushed food, we put our faces in our plates and took 15 hour naps. This ended up being only a warm-up for the rest of our food-filled weekend. The food, in fact, was such a front-and-center feature of the weekend, that we gave it it’s own post.

The food coma turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as our little adventure guide had a jam-packed day in store for us. The morning was spent walking on the wild side around the Memphis Zoo. Between howling at the monkeys, making friends with Ron the zookeeper, seeing a little too much giraffe and hi-fiving polar bears, we’re pretty sure the zoo wanted to make us into an exhibit. While there’s no doubt that we would have put all the other exhibits to shame, we had a a picnic in the park date (complete with candlelight) with Mama B, and we weren’t about to pass that up. After lunch we ventured downtown to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where we had the amazing opportunity to tour the facilities and get an inside look at what goes on there. (Read about our tour here!) Since all that touring worked up our appetites, we stopped into Huey’s (Mid-town, of course) for a quick drink and to try our hand at shooting toothpicks into the ceiling. Of course from there it only seemed natural to keep up the animal kingdom theme for the day, so the OOZ Crew made a pit stop at the Peabody Hotel, famous for the daily spectacle of marching ducks. I kid you not. Joining the large crowd, we watched as several ducks climbed out of the fountain and made their way down to the red carpet, into the elevator, and up to their suite for the evening. The story of how this all came about was pretty interesting (and involved a little too much Tennessee whiskey) but I couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that I was watching a duck go up into a penthouse suite in a luxury hotel. Classy. After the feathered spectacle and a little more downtown touring, we joined Mama and Papa B for some homemade pizza and a mildly competitive (read: anxiety inducing) round of Catchphrase.

While our first two days in Memphis were exhausting, they were nothing short of casual in comparison to Saturday, when the four of us plus Katie S. took on Memphis tourism by storm. In short, we entered the Blingdom. Yes, that’s right ladies and gentlemen – we went to Graceland (thank you, thank you very much). Donning a pair of headphones and trying not to smirk at all the mega-fans paying homage, we ventured through Elvis’ surprisingly small mansion. From the Jungle Room to the Racquetball courts, we spent several hours learning about the King of Rock n’ Roll. To be honest, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was not nearly as tacky as I had anticipated, and a really well-done tour, as far as audio guides go. Three hours of bobbing our heads to “You Ain’t Nothin But A Hound Dog” left us ravenous, so a little trip to the Memphis Pizza Cafe followed by Jerry’s Sno(w) Cones was in order – and it was DELICIOUS. I for one, will never  be the same when it comes to flavored ice. That evening, while Katy and Katie ventured off to a wedding of a camp friend, Mama B took Heidi, Emily and I on a little romantic date of our own – to Arkansas. Cruising over the Mississippi, we watched the sky explode with color as we toasted with a splash of Riesling. Priceless. Throw in another order of BBQ nachos and a doubles ping-pong tournament, and we made for a perfect Saturday evening in Memphis. Of course, being the competitive bunch we are, perfection wasn’t enough. Joined by the wonderful Lindsay Morris and fellow UT Ultimate player Ashley (who also happened to be the birthday girl), we hit up downtown Memphis once again for our shot at Beale Street. Neon lights and liquor were in plentiful supply, and our venue of choice provided just enough spectacle to keep us entertained. And if that didn’t do it, the “big ass bucket” certainly did.

While I’m sure there are other ways to see and do Memphis, you won’t find them endorsed here. Ask any of the O.O.Z. Crew, and you will find overwhelming agreement that Memphis is best seen with a Branston by your side (and of course, Abby). While Emily and I will live in constant pursuit of things Katy did not do, when in Memphis, do as Katy does.

On the road again... Katy is that you?!

Ever since the beginning of time, there’s been a rumor circulating that the open road can be a pretty lonely and boring place. I disagree. I’ll concede on Kansas, but from the days of walking to the Promised Land to a modern-day RV road-trip out west, there have always been plenty of micro-adventures to be had and cool things to witness (even Moses had that whole Red Sea thing). The road is generous in bestowing her adventures to those who genuinely seek. All you really need in your road-trip toolbox are good friends, top-notch playlists, car games and a few well-researched tourist traps and scenic overlooks.

Despite forgetting my iPod (Music Coordinator Fail), Heidi, Emily and I went mix-CD and radio style all the way to Memphis, Tennessee. None of us had ever made the drive to the western half of the Volunteer State, so between the laughs and jams, we kept our eyes peeled for the finer things Tennessee has to offer. In the 21 hours of our journey, she did not disappoint.

Move Over, Nissan!
Tennessee’s first gift was that of friendship. At the end of the day, everyone on the road is just someone trying to get somewhere, and since whizzing around at 70mph isn’t exactly conducive to teatime and small talk, you find other ways to bond with your fellow road warriors. The ultimate form of highway camaraderie came when we not only shared a 300-mile stretch with a blue Silverado, but also worked together to battle it out against a silver Nissan who we dubbed as “the worst driver ever.” As we exited onto Sam Cooper Blvd. to make our way into Memphis, we turned to our new friend and waved, receiving a smile, a nod of thanks and the “hang ten” hand sign in return as he carried on to Little Rock, AR. Best of luck, Silverado. The memories of leaving that Nissan in the dust are all we have.

Villes, Villes, Villes
One thing that never fails to entertain me on the road are names of towns. Our September journey to DC had a few weird names (seriously. Hurt? Tightsqueeze?!) and Tennessee was just as unique. It seems that every other town wasn’t actually a town at all, but a ‘ville. We passed through 22 in all: Gordonsville, Smithville, McMinnville, Lawnville, Maryville, Sevierville, Greeneville, Knoxville, Crossville, Cookeville, Nashville, Centreville, Johnsonville, Brownsville, Sommerville, Lobelville, Huntersville, Whiteville, Dancyville, Collierville, Rogersville, Blountville. And that’s just the ones we passed through and wrote down. This state needs to get a little more creative. Honorable mention for ‘villes outside of TN? We have those too. Tobaccoville, Kernersville, Hillsville, Wytheville, the list goes on…

What happened? A tire hit Mary in the FACE?
For 3 young females in a silver Mazda hatchback named Rafael (Raffi for short), the road can be a pretty dangerous place. While she is giving in nature, Lady Highway saves her best only for the deserving. We were no exception, and on our way to surprise Katy, we were tested with a few surprises of our own.  During the Twilight Zone Hour (crossing over to Central Time) we started to encounter some pretty significant obstacles. Between a brick in the middle of the road (or maybe drywall? We’re not sure), a 4×4, and a tire explosion that sent bits of rubber flying 30 feet in the air and a rim rolling across the interstate directly in front of us, it took three sets of eyes and some defensive driving skills on Kamischke’s part to avoid an incident. And avoid we did.

The Mightiest Oak/Every 7 year old’s Dream
Perhaps the greatest gift of the highway is the tourist trap. These, my friends, are incredible things. Over-the-top diners, giant balls o’ yarn, roadside stands, “amusement parks”, Las Vegas and Christmas towns – just a few of the many types of roadside gems. These establishments are of course designed to ensnare the weary traveler into spending $50 for a family photo with an overgrown hampster, but don’t be too quick to judge signs like “Pedro’s Weather Forecast: Chili today, hot tamale!” South of the Border just might be your own personal I-95 oasis. Okay, fine, it’s a totally deserted hole in the wall – but isn’t that what makes it great? I for one love to imagine the hayday of such attractions – picture: fireworks, smiling children, rides… Kind of like your average state fair, but with a sombrero full of tourist dollars. Don’t be confused by your previous experiences with foreign tourist traps – while I am fairly certain that the Tower of Pisa is Europe’s version of SOTB (trade Pedro for Paolo), highway bliss in the form of a wax dinosaur museum is uniquely American. If you get suckered into paying €22 to see a free-to-the-public cathedral with a non-English speaking guide, well, that’s your own fault. At least most European tourist hot-spots have some sort of historical or cultural significance -we here in the 50-nifty strive for utter pointlessness, and I think that’s fantastic. You know what they say, one man’s tacky is  another man’s treasure.

The Ultimate Tourist Trap

When in route to Memphis, there’s plenty happening off the highway. Since our destination city itself has hoards of tourist attractions (Graceland? Score.) we were on a mission to find the extraordinarily unusual. On recommendation from everyone’s favorite appendix-less Brit, we decided to stop at the one and only Minister’s Treehouse in Crossville, TN (near Knoxville). Part of what makes this attraction so great is that there are no highway signs leading to it, but that’s nothing a little Google-maps couldn’t solve. After heading about a mile off the highway and down a gravel road, we came upon the ultimate backyard playground. To our dismay, the attraction was closed for the day (it was a Sunday), so we couldn’t tour as usual. But the sight of the house itself was well worth it, and should I ever be making my way through the Tennessee ”villes again, I will be sure to stop and have a look around.

The Minister's Treehouse

Happy Trails, travelers! Here’s to hoping you find the intrigue of the interstate just as fabulous as we did!

When Emily and I initially discussed visiting our dear elf-footed friend Katy in Tennessee, there was no question in our minds that some element of the visit would be a surprise. Because really, what’s better than a visit from friends? A SURPRISE visit from friends. Duh. And we wanted it to be big – a reaction that would rival that of the Nintendo-64 kid. And we suceeded.

So how did we do it, you ask? Well, it’s easy. And to help you out, Emily & I have created a simple 5.5 step process*. Really, the majority of this process is plan development. So put on your game face friends, because when it comes to surprises, the motto is: Go Big or Go Home.

0.5. Know Your Surprisee
Whether or not they like surprises is not your main concern. Rather, how does he/she act? If you’re going to put in all the effort, the reward dang well better be worth it. So if you have a friend who is pretty much overall non-chalant, you might first want to reconsider your friendship, and second, not surprise them ever. The best people to surprise are your overreactors. Hands in the air, yelling, screaming, jumping, smiling, uncontrollable belly-laughter, backpack throwing – this is what you’re shooting for, so surprise someone who will commit to the whole 9 yards. (Katy fit the bill. Game on.)

1. Plan Ahead
The first – and perhaps most important – element of a well executed surprise is a plan. Large-scale surprises, such as Washington’s little boat ride into Delaware or the end of “Fight Club” may require weeks of planning. Your smaller scale surprises? Child’s play.  Either way, surprises are serious business, so whether it’s a three pointer or a foul shot, follow through is critical. Ask lots of questions of your surprisee. Sure, no one cares whether or not they’ll be visiting their Uncle Herbert for the holidays, but you have to plan around potential surprise-ruining events (bat mitzvahs, cousins’ piano recitals, grandparents’ 95th birthdays, etc.)

Emily and I were serious about getting out of Gboro, and even more serious about seeing Katy, so we started to dig for details. In early November, under the guise of catch up conversations, we discovered that Katy would be home a week early for everyone’s favorite nom-fest, Thanksgiving. Fortunately, we also found out in advance about a wedding Katy would be attending – yikes, potential snag. However, not ones to face defeat, Emily and I pressed on. From there, the snowball began to roll. Though we had to tell Katy we were coming, we saved the surprise by not only planning to be at the airport when she arrived home from Montana, but we also were bringing Heidi along with us – who had told Katy she couldn’t get off work to come. Fist pump.

2. Select & Involve Your Key Players
Next to developing your plan, choosing your accomplices is an essential piece of surprise pie. Be selective in sharing your plan with – you never know who will accidentally spill the beans, and that’s just the worst. As far as communication, I suggest vague presentation, if only to make yourself feel like Jack Bauer. My personal favorite: “Are you in?” … “I’m sorry, what?” … “are you IN?! YES OR NO!?” … “uhmmmm, uh, I don’t know? yes?” Score. Thanks to the wonderful world of modern technology, involving key players has never been easier. Discreet communication can now happen over multiple states! You can now text, email and teleconference your way to surprise success. In the words of Stacy Laue, YAHTZEE! But be selective about your communication – twitter and Facebook statuses are clearly out. Imagine what would have happened if the Greeks had had twitter – Trojan Horse fail.

A quick message (thanks, Facebook!) to Lindsay, a lifetime BFF of Katy, secured Katy’s home phone number and access to the two individuals who would earn the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor & Actress of this scheme: Katy’s Parents. Emily coordinated the Branston FamJam efforts and they were eager and excited to help the cause – and after seeing Mr. Branston’s sleuthing skills in the airport, it’s safe to say he always has a backup career with the FBI. We also arranged a Wednesday night stay with Lindsay in Knoxville, so that we could arrive to Memphis early Thursday morning before Katy’s plane touched down.

3. Lie Your Pants Off
Self-explanatory, but also tricky. Half the fun is planting little lies in a casual manner. When involving multiple parties, consistently make sure everyone is on the same page. Thanks to Emily, most phone calls and emails included a “This is what Katy thinks is happening” and “This is what is actually happening.” Good work, sidekick.

As the token facebooker of the group, this was my primary method of sneakery. A casual post on Heidi’s wall, “ughghghghghg just quit work and come on a roadtrip.” was likely to go unnoticed, but still, a fun lie nonetheless. And of course several posts, texts and emails regarding “FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY” to Katy did nothing but help our cause. My personal favorite? A phone conversation with Katy where we discussed how sad it was that Heidi wasn’t coming because she didn’t have the vacation days. Whoever said I can’t keep a straight face is a liehole. As far as Katy knew, it was Knoxville Thursday night, then hitting the ground running in Memphis on Friday afternoon. Bahaha, Sucker.

4. Set the Stage & When in Doubt, Disguise
Again, pretty self-explanatory. Arrive to the scene early, scope out possible hiding spots, disguise options, and overall get a lay of the land. When necessary, alert strangers that it’s probably going to get “loud in hurr.” As a side note, costumes are great. A best friend and I once showed up at the airport in matching pajamas and embarrassed the heck out of our roommate. Goodwill ensembles are also highly encouraged. Oh, and make sure you have a backup plan. As far as that goes, Key Player selection is, again, crucial. If you have non-improvisers in your group, don’t give them a lead role. Sorry, Grandma, but your inability to lie with a straight face is your ticket to RuinTheSurprise-ville. Heidi Klum said it best, you’re out.

We arrived at the airport about 45 minutes before Katy landed. After scoping out arrivals and baggage claim, we had a plan set. Katy would arrive and meet her dad at the end of the gates. She would come through and see her mom sitting in the chairs – where Emily and I would also be sitting behind newspapers. Thanks to a little clever finagling, I was able to record Katy’s approach through a hole punched in my newspaper. Airport security violation? Maybe. At the right moment, Emily and I would make the big reveal. Heidi had the perfect vantage point from the airport gift shop, and once we made our way down to baggage claim, Heidi would follow. Due to clever placement and Emily’s and my request to get a “post surprise interview” while we waited for her bag, we were able to catch the whole thing on tape. After we set the stage, we made sure to plan for all possible scenarios. Katy not checking a bag, alternate sneaking routes for Heidi, different ways to get Katy to go into the sitting area… The list goes on.

5. The Big Show (Double Surprise if Possible)
The reveal is, without a doubt, the BEST part of the surprise. It is, of course, what all your hard work has been leading up to. Make it big, make it loud, make it awesome! The double-whammy (or triple-whammy for that matter, but four is pushing it) is the king of all surprises. The person’s heart rate finally reaches normal, their eyes are no longer popping out, the hugs have stopped, and they have only a faint resemblance of the shakes – as opposed to full on convulsions. What’s the last thing they expect? ANOTHER SURPRISE. Perfect.

After flinging her backpack off one time at arrivals, Katy, Emily, the Branstons and I made our way down to baggage claim. Little did she know, Heidi would be sneaking down from her post in the gift shop to give her the second surprise of a lifetime. It was flawless, and possibly THE best reaction I’ve seen in a long time. I’d try to explain in words just how awesome it was, but that would be a miserable attempt at capturing the spectacle of a lifetime. Instead, I will let you watch the video. Which brings me to the last point: Remember To Bring A Camera. The reasoning behind this should be pretty obvious. But in case you’re still left in the dark, just watch and learn.

Happy Surprising, Readers!

*E&P are not responsible if you suck at surprises.

Meet Amber. She’s 8 years old, loves t-ball, wants to marry a cowboy and has a smile that can light up a room. She also has rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of childhood cancer. And then there’s Tyron, a 3 year old who dances and sings to Gospel music with so much energy, you’d never guess he had Burkitt lymphoma.

These are just two of countless children who have been given a chance at life and the freedom to dream, thanks to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. These are also some of the stories that make me realize just how much I have to be thankful for.

While visiting Memphis, I was given the opportunity to have one of my dreams fulfilled: to visit St. Jude. On Friday afternoon, it was arranged for Katy, Heidi, Emily and I to tour the hospital campus (Thank you, Mr. Branston!) and learn more about the amazing work that is done there. This organization is truly astounding. Treating 5,400 patients annually, St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where children are never denied treatment as a result of the family’s inability to pay – if insurance doesn’t cover it, the family doesn’t pay. St. Jude even goes a step further to provide meals and lodging for patients and their families during treatment – they take care of everything, giving these families a huge blessing by taking care of common necessities. Between that and their discoveries of life-saving treatments, St. Jude has become a beacon of hope to children and their families, standing on the premise that, “no child should die in the dawn of life.”

Brenna, our wonderful tour guide, answered our questions and showed us around with an evident enthusiasm and passion for St. Jude. As a result of daily operating costs near the $1.4 million range, St. Jude’s fundraising organization, ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities), along with the help of their partners, do a phenomenal job of making Danny Thomas’ dream live on (read his incredible story here).

Dream Visit!

Needless to say, the visit was one that will stick with me for a long time. For dealing with something so heavy and devastating as childhood cancer, the hospital really was a place of happiness and joy. While we didn’t get to see patients other than those in the lobbies and waiting rooms, it is clear that this is a place built on love – every tile, every employee, and every hopeful face of the children who walk through the front doors. As I sit in my room listening to the quiet kitchen chatter between my mom and brother, an Elon freshman home for Thanksgiving break, it’s easy to get quietly lost amid the many comforts I have: a warm bed, my laptop, closet jammed with clothing, and shelves full of books and DVDs… the list goes on and on. These are not necessary for survival by any means; yet far too often we see the blessings that go above and beyond what we deserve as things we have to have. Life, health, friends, family… why don’t we celebrate these things every day, instead of letting them be swept under the chaos of daily life?

I realize that this has been a little out of the norm for Katydidnot, but I felt it was important to share. Especially as this holiday season comes around, I hope that we all take more than a moment to think about the grace we experience daily. And I hope you pass it on. Smile to a co-worker or classmate you don’t normally talk to, volunteer at your church, give to your favorite organization… Before you know it, you’ll be apart of something big.

For more information on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, visit their website at http://www.stjude.org. To learn more about the annual Thanks and Giving Campaign, or to donate, click here.

BBQ, a gigantic pyramid, Elvis, a really great Zoo, Katy Branston – these are just a few of the reasons that year after year, tourists flock to Memphis, Tennessee, eager to pay homage to their site(s) of choice. For Emily, Heidi and I, this was more than a visit – this was the culmination of weeks of secrets and planning.Mission Memphis kicked off November 18^th, 2009, when after work, we piled into Raffi the Protégé and headed towards Tennessee to give the surprise of a lifetime. Having spent the weeks before scheming and planting lies of all kinds, the three of us cheered with excitement that our plan might actually work. For scheduling reasons, we couldn’t make the visit a COMPLETE surprise, but as far as Katy knew, Emily and I would be arriving Friday morning to spend the weekend in M-Town. Little did she know, we arranged to spend Wednesday night in Knoxville with the lovely Lindsay Morris, had epic plans to surprise the pants off of her at the airport, and best of all, we brought Heidi (who, “couldn’t get the days off work”) with us.

Thanks to some excellent scheming and collaboration with Mr. & Mrs. Branston, the plan went off without a hitch. What also went off was Katy’s backpack (twice) in the airport each time she got her world rocked by our appearances. Don’t worry, we caught (most of it) on camera. ‘Katy did not’ know, and we gave her “the best surprise ever.”

The weekend itself was more epic than we could have imagined. Somehow we must have all gotten the “go big or go home” memo, because in just 72 hours we hit all the major hot spots in Memphis, and still managed to have time for a little trip over the Mississippi River and into Arkansas, plenty of laughs, and time to improve our ping-pong A-game. Rather than try to cram everything into one post, Emily and I will be posting several topics this week. So keep checking back all week and be on the look out for some great How To’s and Must Sees – from Graceland to ducks in a hotel to BBQ nachos, Memphis did not disappoint!

The ooz gang after epic BBQ dinner.

This year a whole new breed of foreign has come along, in fact we are still searching for her documentation. It became clear within minutes of meeting this immigrant that something was different. As soon as she began to speak with an accent akin to that of an Alaskan politician combined with someone from Minnesota, we began to question her roots. It took a while to uncover her true identity, but after much research into Nordic languages it became quite clear that this rather tall, dark haired, freckled body could come from no where else but Sweden.

For those of you unfamiliar with the lovely Nordic country of Sweden, allow me to paint you a picture. Think Sarah Palin turf sansconservatives; with bone chilling temperatures, long periods of sunshine extremes, average tax rates of 28-59% and the presence of our holiday favorite: reindeer. Its most redeeming quality…basically considered pacifistic…at least they haven’t gone to war since 1814.

Our dear friend Kelli came to the US of A in search of sunshine and friends. While her height and inability to say much else than “jaaa” marked her as strange in much of the Elon community, the ladies of Elon Club Ultimate Frisbee welcomed this foreigner with open arms. Free 2 Lay has high hopes for this unique addition to the team, and are hoping that her Swedish citizenship will earn them a bid to the WinterTrofen tournament in Göteborg, Sweden, next February.

Congratulations Kelli, and Välkommen till Amerika.

Sweedish Fish Eating Contest