Hey everyone! Hope everyone had a good work week. I swear that it’s been the longest week for me. I guess because I’m so anxious about the holidays. I cannot wait until next Wednesday. I love going to my grandmother’s on Christmas Eve…its always so much fun.

Nothing has really happened in the life of Johnathon this week. Been getting up at 4 am every morning and coming to work. I guess the only things that have happened was that I did get all my Christmas shopping done last weekend. It took me two days to wrap all my presents & I shaved off my goatee. Last night, after I had shaved my head, I thought that I might just see how I would look with my goatee gone. In the process of shaving that off, I realized that I look really good with a mustache. So this morning, I’m sporting an awesome ‘stache. My stepmother said that I look like a 70’s porn star LOL.I don’t know about that, but I’m still not used to it. I’ll try to get a picture of it tonight.

Well, tonight is my friends in Tupelo Annual Christmas Party/Bubba’s birthday party. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now. It’s been over a month since I’ve seen them. We are going to be having it this year at Logan’s Roadhouse in Tupelo. We usually have it at Bubba’s house in Okolona, but we decided to have it at Logan’s this year. I hope that a lot of people show up tonight. My friend Justin said that we have reserved at least 20 seats, so hopefully we can fill them all. I’ll make sure to take some pictures and post them on here.

Well, this is probably my last post until after the Christmas holidays. I will be getting everything ready next week, so I can get off at 10 am Wednesday. Whenever I get off work Wednesday, I have got to go to a Christmas Eve luncheon at Mi Pueblo in Ripley for the 2nd Annual Pine Grove High School Class of 1999 lunch. We had it last year, but we had to eat at Subway because Mi Pueblo was closed. This Tuesday, I had called to make sure that they was going to be opened and thank goodness because I eat Subway all the time and I think I want some steak fajita nachos. LOL Well, after that, I head home and gather all my presents and food and head on over to Mamaw Maria’s house. We will start to eat around 5:30 – 6:00 and then after everybody has eaten and all the dishes are washed. We will open up presents. We start with the young ones first and then we open the adult presents. Then after all the “regular” presents are opened, we play a game with our gag gifts. My gag gift this year is AWESOME! I think whoever gets it would like it a lot. Well, after that is done with. Each family there will get their picture taken…that alone usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, but that’s a tradition that we have done ever since I can remember. It’s funny to look back and see how everyone has changed. Everyone usually says, man look at that hair, or can you believe what I am wearing. LMAO. Well, after all the pictures and gifts, we usually head back into the kitchen and my aunts, Sandra & Julie, will be making our special Christmas punch and we will usually drink that and “graze” LOL As the night is winding down around 11-ish, we are usually playing games or something of that nature. Christmas is always a big deal on that side of the family. We may have our differences through the year, but on Christmas Eve the whole family comes together as one and we have a BLAST. Around midnight-ish, we usually head on home.

Then on Christmas Day, I get up at the butt crack of dawn & eat breakfast at Mamaw Gearlie & Papaw Johnny’s house. It’s always so good. We usually have sausage, tenderloin, ham, white gravy, chocolate gravy, homemade biscuits, eggs, brains & eggs (which by the way is NASTY, but Daddy & Papaw likes them). Brains & eggs are a delicacy here in the South. I just can’t imagine eating brains…nasty!! Then after everyone eats & opens presents, we usually just go on home because Brian & Cortney have to go to Falkner and I will just go up Daddy’s and hang out with Jessica & Red. We are supposed to be going to my great-grandmother’s, Mamaw Newby, at lunch. We used to go there at night, but we decided to have my Daddy’s Christmas at night this year. After Mamaw’s, we will go back home and Daddy will go get the barbeque from Rib Shack in Corinth, and we will have supper. We are going to try to do a Christmas supper like we have at Mamaw Maria’s this year.

Well, that is my Christmas festivities in a nutshell. I will make sure to post my pictures of everything when I come back.

I hope all of you have a GREAT CHRISTMAS!!! May Santa Claus be good to you this year!!

Happy Holidays,
Johnathon

EVERYBODY LOVES THE BABY JESUS!!!

I head on over to Christmas in Cottonplant tonight after I get off work.  The way they are talking that this might be the last good weekend (weather wise) until after Christmas.  So I’m hoping a lot of people come on out tonight.  I had already gotten a call from my friend Justin last night wanting to know what time do we stay open, so maybe several people from Tupelo will be there.  So maybe we will have a crowd out there

Saturday, I’m going to be on my way back to Corinth for the third and final round of Christmas present shopping.  Next week, I will brave the grocery stores to get the stuff I’m going to cook during Christmas week.  This week, I have to finish up buying for my family & friends.  I think my last count was 17 more presents.  I really don’t mind the shopping as I said in my post on Monday, but it’s the rude people.  But it’s almost over with and I’m just going to enjoy the time left in the holiday season. 

For Christmas, I have gotten my recipes for Christmas gathered up and this is what I’m going to be making.  I am making rum balls, Kentucky Bourbon balls, Peanut Butter Fudge, Red Velvet Balls, Nutter Butter Balls, Butterfinger cookies, & Heath Cookies.  These will be going to my Mamaw Maria’s & my Daddy’s house.  I’m also going to cook a Potato Soup lunch for the shop as my Christmas present to the shop.  I’m going to cook O’Charley’s potato soup, pimento & cheese sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, & Chex mix…all homemade.  I love cooking this time of the year…I just put on my Christmas music and start cooking or I watch some old Christmas movies and just wrap presents.

This Saturday, I have got to go back to Cottonplant.  Maybe this year we will break our record of 4500 people.  That was achieved on the weekend before Christmas 2007.  Last weekend, Saturday night, we had 1200 people.  So, if you are in the Northeast Mississippi area this weekend or the next, please come on out.  You will get to see me and my family at our finest! 

Well, I hope that everyone has an AWESOME weekend!!! 

Oh, I also want to want to say a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mother and my friend, Bubba aka Scott Sullivan!

Take care,

Johnathon

45 ODD Things about me!

1. Do you like blue cheese?   Ugh!  No way! 

2. Do you smoke?   No 

3. Do you own a gun?    Yes 

4. What was your favorite Kool-Aid flavor?   Strawberry 

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?   No, not really 

6. What do you think of hot dogs?   I only like kosher hot dogs…they are the BEST 

7. Favorite Christmas movie?   The Year Without a Santa Claus.  

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?  Mountain Dew 

9. Can you do push ups?  Yes

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?   My pearls…just kidding…I don’t wear jewelry. 

11. Favorite hobby?   Playstation or singing karaoke 

12. Do you have A.D.D.?  I think I may be a tad bit. 

13. What’s one trait you hate about yourself?   I don’t hate anything about myself…but I really don’t like my hair…I use to have real pretty hair LOL

14. Middle name?   Kline 

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?   Ugh…they are complaining again, I’m ready to get out of here, what am I going to shop for tomorrow? 

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?   Pepsi, Hot Chocolate, Coffee…did I mention Pepsi?? he he  

17. Current worry?   Why am I having dreams about me and elephants? 

18. Currently hate right now?  I don’t hate…hate is wrong.  I don’t like beans. 

19. Favorite place to be?   Shopping…to me it’s a great stress reliever 

20. How did you bring in the New Year?   I went to a New Years’ partay in Memphis 

21. Where would you like to go?   I don’t know…anywhere is better than being at work on Friday 

22. Name three people who will complete this?    Whoever I tell to fill this out!  LOL 

23. Do you have on slippers?   Nope, but I wish I did, they would be better than these clod hoppers I have on right now. 

24. What color shirt are you wearing right now?   it’s red…I always try to wear red everyday at Christmastime…I look dang spiffy!! 

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?   No, you will slide off the bed 

26. Can you whistle?   No…I sound like a sick bird. 

27. Favorite color?   Red 

28. Would you be a pirate?   No, I would have to take a bath and I think I might get sea sick LOL 

29. Sing in the shower?   Of course…it sounds better when I sing Heaven’s Jubilee in the shower 

30. Favorite Girl’s Name?   Orangejello 

31. Favorite boy’s name?   Lemonjello 

32. What’s in your pocket right now?   Keys, phone, digital camera, batteries, pens (cuz Mr. Landers always said to carry a pen), bilfold,reciepts…the question didn’t specify which pocket. 

33. Last thing that made you laugh?   My boss…he’s so funny 

34. Best bed sheets as a child?   My Get-Along Gang sheets…that’s an old old cartoon…I don’t think no one remembers them anymore. 

35. Worst injury you’ve ever had?   A cut head from my wreck in Memphrica 

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36. Do you love where you live?  Yeah, kinda…I would much rather live somewhere else though 

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37. How many TV’s do you have in your house?   3 

38. Who is your loudest friend?   Bubba 

39. How many dogs do you have?   0 

40. Does someone have a crush on you?   I hope so 

41. What is your favorite book?   any of the Harry Potter books…yes I know, you don’t have to say it 

42. What is your favorite candy?   Certs 

43. Favorite Sports Team?   Mississippi State Bulldogs 

44. How many cats?  No cats 

45.How many Grandchildren?   Ugh…I’m too good looking to have grandchildren 

Below are some pictures from this weekend at Christmas in Cottonplant.

Carolers

Here’s a picture of the outside my house.

I got a crappy camera…I’ll try to get better pictures.  Well, hope you have a great week!!  17 more days til CHRISTMAS!!!

Johanthon

That is German for HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!  

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men,
For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. ~Psalm 107:8-9

Well, Thanksgiving is upon us and less than a month Christmas will be here.  Man, time sure does fly don’t it?  It just seems like yesterday I was going to my mother’s house for Thanksgiving and here it is again.  I cannot wait until tomorrow.  I am going to get up early so I can watch the Today Show and then the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, while doing that, I will be making my Twice Baked Potato Casserole, Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Wienies, & Pumpkin dip.  I made my Pecan pie cake last night because I knew that with church tonight, I wouldn’t have time.  The recipe is so in depth that it takes forever just to make the batter.  You have got to separate the eggs and then put one egg yolk in at a time.  Then you have to make a foam out of the egg whites and FOLD them in.  It’s one of the hardest cakes I have ever made, but it’s well worth it.  It taste just like a pecan pie.  It’s AMAZING!!  My grandmother had to help me with a couple of things because we never learned anything like that in Home Economics. But it’s good.  Below is a picture of the cake.

Tomorrow, I have got to go to my mother’s at 10 AM.  We don’t eat until 12:30 PM and 1 PM, but I wanted to go over there because I’m sure she is going to need some help.  I have got family coming in from everywhere…Kentucky, Missouri, Memphis…the place is going to be packed full.  Everyone is looking forward to it.  Then I have to leave there and go to my Mamaw Gearlie’s house for Thanksgiving.  I’m going to be so full by the end of the night, I should be able to sleep good.  Thanksgiving food is different in the South than it is in the north.  First, we have our Turkey (which is always a staple across the ocuntry), then we will have Ham, Creamed potatoes (yankees have mashed potatoes.  We don’t like ours with lumps in them), Chicken & Dressing (yankees have stuffing..YUCK!  Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without Chicken, cornbread, & sage LOL) Cranberry Sauce (Ours come from a can.  It isn’t thanksgiving unless you have the can shaped cranberry sauce.) We have yams, beans, peas, casseroles, rolls, and any dessert you can ever think of.  We, in the South, know how to cook.  My grandmother started teaching me at age 8.  Then in high school I was one of the first boys to ever win the Foods Award in Home Economics.  I love cooking especially this time of the year.  

But I only get to be off only one day this year.  I’ve got to come back to work on Friday.  Even though, I won’t be worth a crap. LOL  I think next year.  I’m going to take off the Wednesday before and the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  

Well, it’s deer season here in Mississippi.  My brother headed out at 4:45 this morning.  We have got about 200+ acres at the house and down in the bottom and behind my Papaw Johnny’s house we have shooting houses.  My brother said that he’s seen several, but hasn’t shot anything.  I think I may go during the second season.  It’s always so hectic around the first season.  I hope our family gets quite a few this year because I love my daddy’s deer jerky.  It’s like a drug, it’s so addictive.  I can eat a whole bag in a matter of minutes.

Well, I have my tree up.  I actually put it up two weeks ago.  I just couldn’t take it any longer.  I had my big tree up and it feel on me and then my mother’s temper came out and I threw it out the door and in the yard.  So, I had to go buy me a new tree and I also bought a new 4ft tree for my bedroom.  I have the one in my bedroom put up, but not in the living room.  I was waiting on this weekend.  It looks really good.  I have a picture of it below.  Just imagine that on a bigger scale and that’s what my living room tree will look like.  I’m also planning to start putting up decorations outside next weekend.  So whenever I get that done, I will also post a picture on here.  

Christmas in Cottonplant starts Friday night.  If you can, please come.  IT’S AMAZING!!  It’s one of the best kept secrets in North Mississippi.  The North Mississippi Daily Journal came out and done an article about us to put in the paper, so make sure to look for it.  I don’t know about being there during the week, but I sure will be there on Friday and Saturday nights.  Here’s the link to the website again…

http://www.mississippichristmas.com/christmasincottonplant.html

Well, that’s about it from me this week.  So much is going on and I don’t think it will be getting any better next month either.  I hope that you and yours has a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!