Classic Series: Toy Story

Hello readers! I've written a new review of Toy Story, the latest in my ongoing "Classic Series." All of my reviews, including this one, are now posted exclusively on DeeTravis.com, so head on over and check it out!

Click here to read the review.

Dee and Lauren's 2nd Anniversary

First of all, we're sorry to just now be posting about our anniversary. This blog has seen nothing but links to DeeTravis.com for the last month, but we're going to do a better job of updating it moving forward.

For our second wedding anniversary, we camped out at The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We stayed in the Elkmont Campground and had a site right on the river. It was such a beautiful place! Once we had everything set up, we got a fire going and prepared the Dutch Oven. We LOVE cooking in the Dutch Oven; if you've never used one, it's a cast-iron pot that you place hot coals on top of and underneath. The Dutch Oven is easy to use, and it's great to have home-cooked meals on a camping trip. You really can cook anything in there, and our menu for the weekend included pizza, sausage-and-egg casserole, meatloaf, and a pineapple cake.

The first half of the trip (1.5 days) was great fun. We had delicious food, fun times, and everything was going according to plan. Around 2 p.m. on our actual anniversary day (August 11), the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and we set out to enjoy the day. First, we went to the Visitor's Center. After moving through the museum and watching a film about the history of the park, we stepped outside and were ready to go on some hikes, and maybe even visit Gatlinburg (only eight miles away).

However, as soon as we stepped outside, we found the sky completely overcast. Just to be safe, we headed back to our campsite to zip up our tent windows. In the five minutes it took to get back, it began to rain. Then it poured. By the time we reached the tent, there was standing water inside. Various items were practically afloat.

We sat in the car until it stopped raining and then went about the task of hanging our stuff around to dry. We lifted the tent and poured the water out. We struggled for freakin' forever to start a fire, but finally got enough hot coals to cook an amazing meatloaf (easily the high point of the afternoon/evening). We went to sleep that night without so much as half of the bedding we had the night before, because it was all soaked. Around 1 a.m., we woke up wet again. Water was seeping in near the door. We decided we had had enough. We got up in the night, packed our things, and started the four-hour drive at 2 in the morning.

As a humorous side note, we got quite hungry around 3:45 a.m., so we stopped at a 24-hour McDonald's. They told us that breakfast didn't begin until 4 a.m. OK, no problem; we'll just wait for the next one. By the time we came upon another 24-hour McDonald's, we had crossed back from Eastern to Central time, meaning that we had to wait another hour. We did finally eat, and we arrived back around 5:30 or so. All in all, we had an anniversary trip that was both fun and frustrating. Two years ago, we promised to love each other in all times, both good and bad. Our camping trip had both.

District 9

Hello again! I just posted my review of District 9, which along with all my new reviews, is posted exclusively on DeeTravis.com. Head on over and give it a look, but check back here for personal news.

Click here to read the review.

Inglourious Basterds

Hello again! I just posted my review of Inglourious Basterds, which along with all my new reviews, is posted exclusively on DeeTravis.com. Head on over and give it a look, but check back here for personal news.

Click here to read the review.

Classic Series: L.A. Confidential

Hello readers! I've written a new review of L.A. Confidential, the latest in my ongoing "Classic Series." All of my reviews, including this one, are now posted exclusively on DeeTravis.com, so head on over and check it out!

Click here to read the review.

The Proposal

Hello again! I just posted my review of The Proposal, which along with all my new reviews, is posted exclusively on DeeTravis.com. Head on over and give it a look, but check back here for personal news.

Click here to read the review.

The Hurt Locker

Hello again! I just posted my review of The Hurt Locker, which along with all my new reviews, is posted exclusively on DeeTravis.com. Head on over and give it a look, but check back here for personal news.

Click here to read the review.