I Couldn't Help Myself...

I had to copy my sister's blog. Some of you who visit both of our's regularly will notice the similarity. But I'm a proud sister and was worried that some of you wouldn't see.

Emily writes, "A few posts ago, you were warned about my tendency to talk about my brother a little too much. Well, basketball season has started and here I go. I am so proud of him and I guess you can say that I like to brag on him just a little...which makes me think of a quote by Dizzy Dean, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it."
Well, Andrew has started off the basketball season really well. They have played two games and he has scored a total of 52 points....yep, in TWO games. Andrew scored 25 points in their 76-49 victory over CM&I and scored 27 points in the opener against Simpson, which they also won 84-39. Andrew was also named the week's TOP PERFORMER by the Clarion Ledger! I can't wait to get to Madison so I can watch him play. GO PATRIOTS!!!"

In addition to being a great athlete, he's also super involved at school. He was recently interviewed for a newpaper article on their new chapel program. Click here to see what he had to say!

A Weekend with Johnny and Jessi

"Well they're bound to get you,

'Cause they got a curfew,

And you go to the Starkville city jail."

-Johnny Cash

Anne Parks, Jason, and I had a great time attending the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival in Starkville a few weekends ago. I'd emailed my friend Jessi to let her know about the goings-on in our home town, and I guess she just wasn't going to miss the opportunity to be a part of such a historical occasion as the pardoning of Johnny Cash. She booked a plane the next day and was in Mississippi before we knew it. It was a wonderful surprise to spend a weekend with my friend. She took some great photos that you can see by clicking here.


The day was filled with some great bluegrass and country music. That afternoon, the mayor and the sherriff presented Johnny Cash's posthumous pardon to his sister and daughter. After the pardoning, Marty Stewart and the Fabulous Superlatives took the stage. They put on a great show. I recommend seeing them if you get the chance.

Anne Parks read the brochure to let us know who was playing next.

Anne Parks and I enjoyed the music and the sunshine.

You can't have a party in Starkville without Bully!

It got pretty cold when the sun went down. Good thing we bought this cute hat at Mommasissy's store, MINT, earlier in the day.

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Here's little history lesson for those of you who aren't familar with Johnny Cash's Starkville connection... Johnny Cash was arrested for public drunkenness (though he described it as being picked up for picking flowers) in Starkville and held overnight at the city jail on May 11, 1965, which was the inspiration for his song "Starkville City Jail". The song appears on the album At San Quentin. Local oral tradition has it that he finished a gig at what is now the 'Dark Horse Tavern' and then walked a block west to the northwest corner of Lee Boulevard (now MLK) and Montgomery Street, where he helped himself to the flower bed at the front of the house.
An interesting tidbit for MSU KD's - Mom Palmer's husband was mayor when Cash was arrested. I saw her at the festival and she said she remembered the sheriff calling him at 2 am with the news that he'd arrested Johnny Cash.

I'm Still Here

Some of you may be thinking that the McQueen's have fallen off the face of the Earth. We haven't, though it seemed we might for a while there! October was not our best month. On top of Jason's studying, then taking the P.E. in Florida...
We've been sick. - Each member of our family had the stomach bug, Anne Parks had two ear infections, and I stayed home from school with a sore throat and severe larangitis.
We've had car trouble. - I was rear-ended and drove a rental for a week while my car was repaired, but they didn't complete the job so I had to take it back for another two days. When I got it back, it broke down and I had to be towed.
Our camera died! Our duct-taped, five year-old camera finally gave out, so I haven't been able to take pictures.

November has looked a lot more promising! Mississippi State's been victorious, Jason's free from studying, and we're looking forward to Thanksgiving. Please continue to check back with the blog. Soon, we'll have a new camera and I'll be back to posting regularly again.