Get Your Hand Out of the Turkey

   Ok, Thanksgiving is over and it is time to put our noses to the grindstones and get going. Exams are coming up, we all need to loose that extra 4 from stuffing, gravy and carbs carbs carbs (plus a little pecan pie) and we need to shrug the recitation of thankfulnesses and start appreciating them. Let this holiday season be a time to take our blessings and truly relish them. As we often get bustled up with the holidays, egg nog and (sometimes) false cheer we forget to focus on the important things. Get your hand out of the turkey and immerse yourself into the life God gave you. Rejoice, praise and try to breathe throughout the chaotic-ness. By the time Christmas rolls around you will be fulfilled spiritually and exhausted mentally and physically…and you'll be ready for some coconut cake.

Biscuits

  Holidays are around the corner and I have one thing on my mind: Christmas morning biscuits, a tradition in my home. My grandmother, Dancy, makes the best homemade biscuits you could ever put in your mouth. The are small, flaky and filled with Southern love. Though the holidays have put me in a biscuit mood, it has been boosted by Aunt Bette when she said something memorable to me the other day. We were enjoying breakfast and I said something snitty. Immediately I got "the look" and she said, jokingly, "I'm going to whip your ass…..after I eat my biscuit." Now there is some serious love going on there, for the biscuit and for me.
  I realize how grateful I should be to have someone like her to chastize me when I do wrong and share breakfast with me. God seems to place a bit of love everywhere and it is so much more special when you see that love. Enjoy those biscuits, and share some love!

Take A Deep Breath

   I am feeling like the biggest idiot in the world right now. I have been trying to update my blog for three weeks and I have not been able to. Within seconds of shooting a fiery email to Blogger, I actually look at the help page. I was logged in with the wrong email account, so I couldn't make a new post…I really feel like a pro blogger. 

   Annnyway now that that is behind us I must acknowledge the lessons I learned from this experience. One, do not be afraid to look at the help page…it doesn't bite. Two, take a deep breath before doing anything rash. Three, for goodness' sakes, if the directions are right there, use them! 

   One would think that after three weeks I would have tons to write about, but that certainly is not the case here. The only thing interesting in the life of Eliza Claire is…well, when I figure it out, I'll tell ya.

Lamenting the Passing of Summer

   It's finally here. Tomorrow I will begin my Junior Year of high school. I am both nervous and excited. Though I dread the end of this great love-filled summer I am a bit glad to get back in the swing of things. In true Eliza Claire fashion, my family adopted (best friends & such) and biological, will join together to eat as we lament the passing of this great summer. We are are going to Alfonso's, a local Mexican joint my Mother has labeled her "kitchen."
   With a family of golfer's, the night will be filled conversations of the tournament that concluded today. It is the Wilma Austin or the "Divorce Open #2" as it is the second husband and wife tournament of the year. We love it because it is just another chance for the women to execute their superiority a.k.a. ability to tell their husband's what to do….or where to go. Usually a few tiffs occur and golf games are effected causing even more tiffs. It is all in good sport though and most truly enjoy the tournament. My poor father does not get to play in the W.A. because my mother does not play golf. Which is probably a good thing for my family because with those two competing, the nickname might just become official (sarcasm, maybe). Oh well. It is over and so is my summer. Both went extremely well and that is a great blessing.With the joys of great food, friendship and the expressions of love I welcome this new chapter in my life.

[insert sarcasm]

   Some give the advice: "trust your gut" or "your instincts will guide you" when one is nervous or scared. Most of the time it is great advice, but sometimes it is not.  My gut (literally and figuratively) says that home-made biscuits will always taste good...so false. There are some pretty bad cooks in this world and biscuits can get really hard. My father has always emphasized the importance of thinking your actions through before carrying them out. That is good advice. Example: after receiving an email from our new Dean of Students about dress code next year, my gut told me to fire off a flowery response. I planned to politely inform him that leggings are not to be worn with shorts they are to be worn with skirts, skorts or dresses, it is not necessary to have one's shirt tucked in while at the coffee shop during a free period and that it is completely ludicrous to require girl's cardigans to be monogrammed along with the shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and vests already advertising the school. I was also going to ask what other items needed to be monogramed? Maybe socks? scarfs? panties?  It is a very good thing that I did not follow the impulse and shoot him this email. I would have been in major trouble if I had been allowed back. Or I would have made it onto the new dean's bad list...not a good place. I like to be on the good student list, it just turns out better in the end. I feel like my gut is telling me that this means this year is going to be awful and militaristic. I hope it is wrong again...especially when I show up the first cold school day in uniform with an un-monogrammed cardigan and leggings under my skirt. Aren't I rebellious?! Bad list here I come!!

Worry?...nah

  I feel badly that I have not posted lately. I am suffering from a creativity block. As these last fews weeks of summer have been blowing by, I have struggled with topics to write about. They all involve complaining about my mother or complaining about something else. It is not as though my life lacks enthusiasm or interest, it is that my mind is flatlining. I do not want to begin the school year for the fear of the unknown and the realization that Junior Year is close to the end of my high school career...which means college. I look forward to the college visits and the new people, but I dread the stress that comes with the new school season. Mother seems to think this year will be amazing and that really good things are heading my way. Usually she is right, as much as I hate to admit that. I am dedicating my Junior Year to two people: myself (obviously) and Aunt Bette. I shall push myself academically and achieve incredible things; I am also going to make this year as happy and blessed as I can, for my Aunt. This special person in my life has "the big C" as she like to call it. Our nickname for her stage 4 lung & bone cancer is the "boo boo." She is under the fabulous impression that it can be cured with laughter, family and alcohol (big girls only). I know that this year will bring many great times, and I'm sure a few bad ones. I needn't worry, for I am one lucky girl. I have an angel-on-Earth to guide me through it.

50/50

   So everyone in my house is running around like chickens with their head cut off. We are leaving to go to the beach in just a few short hours and as much as we try to tell ourselves we are ready and that we haven't forgotten anything; we are not ready and we will most definitely forget something. I love vacation, but it seems like you need one before you go on one, then you need another one after you get off the vacation. Agh! So many vacations... Well, today in the midst of this pandemonium I start getting that creepy feeling of, " it is that time of year again," and school is just around the corner.  I am an unusual kid, school is torture, but it is an ok torture (I know that sounds like masochism). It is that rhythmic motion of repetitiveness that makes it livable. I wake up, go to classes and go home or to dance. I know that my day won't be any different. It is boring, but it is a seldom changing, though stressful, system. I mean, I don't really want to go back because there is no "need" to. I have seen my friend over the summer and have been in contact with others. I do not want to see some people, but then again maybe I do? I try to tell myself that this year is going to be so different and its going to be great. My teachers will be different, I will be refreshed and ready to rip. Yet, after tons of summers of saying just that and having interesting years, I feel mixed emotions. Something says this year really will be different and then something tells me its going to be same old, same old, and I will count down the days until graduation. 

   I know that I should have faith because God will guide me in the right direction, and I do, but I still am a bit...antsy. Growing up changes things and while I am still in that process, things are becoming more clear but there is still a lot of blurriness. I do not want my repetitiveness to be over and yet I crave it's end. I think by the time these next two years are over, the repetitiveness will be ready to be tossed out the window. I am solving my situation by preparation and focus...and a bit of beach time just to hold it off for a few more days. 

namesakes & history

   My ancestors came to the States from County Clare Ireland. My family is big on remembering the past, so often parents will throw the name Clare in their child's moniker. The strange thing is, most of our Clares are boys. We have Frank Clares, Ed Clares, John Clares and Claras (those are girls). As southerners many of us have double names; mine being Eliza Claire. My mother, a Parisian at heart, has great respect for the French culture and language, added an i. Claire translates to light in French, making my name mean follower of God's light. She thought it had a nice ring to it.
   As the my blog consists of a few of my thoughts, opinions, ideas and stories it had to have a name that represents me. I decided to name it Southern County Claire to acknowledge my past and my present. I often look to the past for guidance. My father, a history buff, says some of the worst things that have happened in the world are due to people who repeat history because they are not knowledgable of the past. So either that discussion was a warning to do better in history class or never repeat your mistakes, I took it to heart and you should too.

hot hot hot

   Well, once again we have a summer scorcher. We have reached record breaking highs and have been asked to conserve water (yeah right). We pray the pools do not dry out because, if they do we will dry out with them! Everyone is shoving water down each others throat and even though it is annoying, we will thank them for it later. The summer heat is testing everyones nerves as people become snappy and everyone feel like they are in the midst of hot flashes. It is hotter than a you know what down here. I can not even keep a single train of thought going. Well folks, I will talk to you later. Stay hydrated today and keep that sunscreen on...we do not want wrinkles to form prematurely due to the sun.

fireworks of morale

   Today is the American Independence Day. It's citizens are celebrating all across the nation with fireworks, cookouts and pool days. Due to extreme heat and dryness across the Southern states, we are going to watch fireworks on the Television, be in the pool all day, eat microwaved corn and force one unlucky uncle to be the grill master. For the most part, our morale seems to be average for an election year. By the grace of our good Lord we have had no earth shattering natural disasters lately; though we have had a slight shake in morale due to HBO's The Newsroom. Two Sundays ago America's "title" of being the greatest nation in the world was, shall we say, discussed in the fast and exciting new series. The main charachter discredited America's present greatness by means of comparative statistics of America versus the world. He moved on to redeem himself by stating that at one point yes, we were the greatest, but some things got in our way. Though this positive end was p.c., it did not erase the previous words. The tirade cause many to really think about the present state of our country. It is known that we rank 25th in math and 21st in science and we have more morbidly obese people per capita than any other country. These facts are not pleasing but it should not define our nation. Statistics should be a guideline to improvement. They should tell us that our teachers need more help and that America should go on a diet. We are a prideful nation, not a stupid one. We possess the fresh skills of progress and determination. We may not be the leading country in elementary school subjects, but we are the leading country of the free world. It is important to set one's goals and strive toward them. I hope we can be the generation that does this. Have a blessed fire-free Fourth folks...and party on.

Antiques & A.C.

   Today the extreme heat reaches close to 110 degrees and people are quick to stay inside. Well there was no way to contain Mother and I as we woke up "early" for a summer pedicure. After our toes dried we went on a mission for furniture. We visited the local antique store that is filled with everything imaginable, including pets. As we shopped I was able to have a glimpse of my hometown in a past life as the stores had a reminder here or there about our famous Walking Horse status and the founding pencil companies that brought progress to little Shelbyville. After leaving the store I visited my grandmother to ask about this, that and how things were back then. She always has stories to tell except for today...I didn't call first and she was preoccupied with something or another.
   It was nice to ponder the imagined unknown. As I am caught up in the bustle of high school rarely do I have the chance to think about other times and how people survived without cell phones. I know you are supposed to do that in History class, but who really digs in deep, besides the history lovers? I found much comfort in thinking about a more simple time. But I can tell you this: I am so glad I live in 2012, because it is too hot outside not to have air conditioning!

Wrinkles

   Over the past few weeks I have been fretting over the possibility of wrinkles forming as I age. I don't know why, I mean, I should have at least 14 years, right? The scary thing is, when wrinkles appear, what if I am allergic to Botox, can't afford it, or do the right thing and put the money toward a greater good? By the grace of our good Lord, it couldn't be all three, could it? I would be so screwed!
   I pray that genetics play a huge part on my aging process. Mother is fifty five and fabulous, (and doesn't look a day over 42), my 73 & 92 year old grandmothers both look (and act) twenty years younger than their age. The thing is, I have a sneaking suspicion that, that might not be the case for dear old me. I was born 25 and acted like a 40 year old mother during my first two years in high school. Who knows? I could age better than all three of them! I've decided that I am going to just be super successful, be able to afford Botox AND be able to give $$$ to the greater good. And if I'm allergic...I'll just get JUVÉDERM instead.

Well, today is the begining of the rest our our lives! As we journey on our path we encounter new things everyday. Today's new experience is blogging. It is a trial run for a junior project, something to be discussed later, and mostly I will just type words with spelling errors and bad punctuation. My goal is to share some of my family's favorite moments of the day, week or even the past and thought's that ran through my mind. I hope y'all will be able to tolerate the (mental) southern accents and the numerous y'alls. Thanks!