GUESS WHO?

Yeap, you got it. This is what happens when Brent is tired and needs to rest from driving. Brent asks his adoring wife to drive home the rest of the way from Gatlinburg for him. Brent is dosing. All of a sudden Brent wakes from a sudden sleep, pops his head up and alerts his adoring wife that there is a cop at the bottom of a hill on the right side of the highway. And just like that, "Officer Friendly" catches the adoring wife (a.k.a. - ME) doing 79mph in a 55mph construction zone on the highway as I'm barreling thru the wonderful state of Kentucky yesterday evening.

Needless to say, I wasn't so "lucky" with changing this officers "state of mind" this time. Ha ha! He was an extremely friendly officer though who saved me BIG-time. Instead of giving me the $500 ticket I deserved for speeding while doing wreckless driving speeds (anything over 20mph of the stated speed limit) inside a construction zone, he told me he'd write the ticket as though I was only doing 10mph over in a 55mph "regular" zone rather than inside a construction zone. He said he felt that I was in no means acting as a "wreckless driver" but yet that I just had the unfortunate and very bad luck of meeting him while driving too fast this evening. He told me that he felt like me loosing my license and receiving a $500 ticket was not deserved just because I was within the construction zone. He commented that he would tell his boss that I was polite and admitted my wrongs immediately. In other words...he really cut me a break and gave me a $163 fine rather than the $500 ticket that would have ultimately cost me my license. By doing so, he said it wouldn't cause any points against my license either. Good to know. He also laughed and told me that he knew I'd hear enough "B- - - - - - g'ing" from my husband for getting caught speeding (his exact words) as I pulled off down the highway and that it in itself would be sufficient punishment. I told him I'd be hearing about it for the next 10 years fo' sho'! He looked at Brent, laughed again, and said "You know the statue of limitations is only 5 years, right?" Given the moment, and the ticket, it was still pretty funny. The officer was very nice and extremely "giving" in regard to what I actually deserved. And Karen, you'll be so happy to know that I WAS wearing my seat belt when he pulled me over. I thought of you when I read the itemized details on the citation and realized he wasn't able to fine me for not wearing my seat belt. I am being a very good girl in that area ever since your and Brent's razzing of me in the driveway that day. So, other than a stressful start and a somewhat stressful end to the day yesterday...the Gatlinburg trip was great. The town is a bit beat up, tattered and torn, in comparison to what I remembered it to be the last time we were there (9 years or so ago). The Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg areas all appear as though they've had some serious wear and tear over the last decade. In the end though, the mountains were gorgeous and the kids had a ball with all of the attractions the city had to offer. I'll post photos of our stay a little later. Right now I'm off to Kenidi and Brennen's school for the afternoon. I figured I'd better at least post something on the ol' AGD blog though because I was getting emails starting all the way back on Friday telling me that you guys were needing your AGD fix. Hopefully this post will hold you over until I get more pictures up tonight. ;) On a more important note, please know that I do take driving seriously. Unfortunately the highway got the best of me when it went from a 70mph speed limit down to a 55mph construction zone without me realizing it soon enough. I'm blaming it on the Jeremy Camp tunes that the kids and I were rocking out to at that moment. I had them belting out thru Brent's Ipod on the stereo in the truck when it happened. Thankfully, God gives us chances to slow down and laugh in life. With the friendly demeanor of the Kentucky state trooper, we were able to do just that. I laughed. Smiling makes all the difference in the world - even when you're a police officer handing a girl a $163 speeding ticket and telling her to have a nice night. It's good to be home. No need to email me, I'm slowing down. I promise! Ha ha!Hugs, Angie