Farewell Mississippi: The Long Awaited Photo Tour of My-Town Mississippi (Yes. More Prizes. DUH!)

Congrats Ragtopday and Mommiebear2. Email me to claim your prize!

Alas, fair Magnolia state of sweaty days, mosquito filled nights, and nothing in between but bad barbeque and some weird things you call Sausage Balls (see below for a picture), I must leave you. It's been hot - and I mean the "not-so-sexy-but-more-like-stinkier-than-a-Pimento-Cheese-sandwich" kind of hot.

I've seen it all. Fried catfish on a bed of brown iceberg lettuce, anti-abortion activists lined up on the side of the road near my grocery store holding dead fetus dolls, and a lot of feathers and sequins. A LOT.

I've heard more. Country songs I'm quite sure should never leave the walls of a prison cell, y'alls that start and end a sentence, and pronunciations of common words that sound more foreign than my name in Japanese.

But, it hasn't been all bad. There was the job, the divorce, the graduating students, the huz, the baby, the column, and the blog fodder.

God, you sustained my blog for many a month.

So, I thank you and bid you adieu (that's goodbye in France, not "a shit"). May I never see your flat, unconventional, and backwards face ever again. (If you'd like to take a walk down memory lane, click here for all my Mississippi posts to date, including other great pics of my fair town).

Remember Ray Ray's?

My favorite lunch time stop. Yum Gizzards!

Mmmmm... It's a Sausage Ball!

Our neighbors.

Full price? No way. But shotgun clearance? YES PLEASE!

Ruth's Chris? Please. We have "Old Hick" - where drinks are served in Mason Jars!

It's the BEER TRAILER! The only place in town that carries Newcastle (read: any good beer that does not have a light version).

Just in case you were wondering, they cater!

It's a bar. They call it "THE BOW." Don't ask.

Yes. The infamous in-law shopping spree took place here:

And the breastfeeding wedding dress was bought here:

And look, mother-of-the-bride dresses!

But it's not all bad. Tennessee Williams was born here. Yes. In that actual house.

And here is the music building on campus. My home for 3 years. (And on the national historical registry).

And finally, you can't live in the South without a church that has it's own above the street crosswalk.

THE END. And now to the In-laws! The irony of all ironies. Instead of staring down a west nile infested mosquito, I'll get to see my MIL's face every damn morning.

Oh yes. And the stories will be good.

I promise.

--

So what's a photo montage if you can't commemorate it in a kick ass photo book from HP? Yeah. Not such a great one, I admit. I'm barely sentimental, but oh wouldn't I love to have a MissASSippi photo book to show my tens of dinner guests? Or perhaps a book full of tantrum photos? Or better, milestones that they don't have a spot for in the baby book.

And even if you're sentimental, these books are perfect. And for $24.99, I'm not quite sure what the hell you're waiting for.

Oh. You want a free one. Okay, so I have TWO free books to giveaway. And I'll pick two winners at random. Leave me a comment (one per person per day) and you'll get a free book.

And if you want to take your chances AND make sure you get one, then use this discount code. You get a whopping 20% off the books. I smell in-law gift (omg. Maybe I should do that? Compile all my fabulous photos of bras and shoes and ink walls).

Comments

[ESTHERGuerra35]

I took 1 st business loans when I was 32 and this helped my business a lot. But, I require the collateral loan again.

[Zakk]

I've lived in MS all my life, and while I have ate more than a few sausage balls in my day (never one quite that large), I don't find that you really paint an accurate picture of our state.

I rarely hear random country songs, I've never seen an anti-abortion rally, and while I've seen some rather large churches, I've never seen one with an above the street crosswalk.

Yes, it's very hot and humid, but on the flip side the winters aren't that cold, and fall and spring are rather nice.

Far more of what you describe (sans the church thing or perhaps the sausage balls) is far more indicative of small towns in just about any state, not just those in MS or any other Southern state.

I realize you wrote this for humor, and sometimes I find humor in bashing my state as well, but it's sort of alarming that so many people actually feel that your blog is an accurate picture of our entire state, and there's enough of that sort of crap floating around as it is.

[Karen]

I just moved to Columbus from New Jersey and I hate it too. I used to work across the street from Tennessee Williams's home. Historic Columbus is the only part of this place I can take.

[Cracked Mommy]

I laughed 'till I damn near cried reading this!!

At least you didn't live in the Delta where I am. *shudder*

But what I really want to know is did you at least try a Kool-Aid pickle while you lived here?

[Whymommy]

I lived there. All my life, until I could move away.

Ah, the memories.

(I lived there BEFORE the church-bridge was built! You can't imagine the stir that caused!)

[heather h]

I know more about gizzards, livers, and calf fries (ewww) than one would generally ever want to learn. Believe me, I can commiserate with you barfing while the locals enjoy their "delicacies". Disgusting.

I am in desperate need of a decent in-law gift, and the HP book is great idea, especially if I win=free. And I'd even be getting 1/50th of my Christmas gift list marked off before December 23. Perfect!

[Amy]

I wanted to leave this on the bra entry comment section but it was closed, but I was just going to tell you - there may be a bigger crime there than the bra hanging, i.e., that wallpaper border - and what is that, a plastic radish hanging up there?

[celebrate woo-woo]

Yay for photos!

[Mimipz5wjj]

I would LOVE one! My best friend when to MSU -- I visited her one year in Starkville, All I remember was how flat and red everything was!

[workoutmommy]

you crack me up!!!! Please pick me for a photo book. Thanks!

[mommiebear2]

Yikes, did you ever actually eat one of those sausage balls??

[Damselfly]

I remember this post. Hilarious! The pictures just make it even better.

[ktjrdn]

There's a lot of new people on here who don't seem to realize that this post was a repeat.

[Liza]

On of my LLL buddies is about to relocate there -- move in date she'll be 32 weeks pregnant.

For baby #1, she had a hospital delivery with a nurse midwife, no interventions.

When she interviewed a doctor in her-new-town-MS, the doctor that "everyone" recommended, he informed here that as a matter of practice, at this hospital they take the newborn away from the mother for the first FOUR hours after birth. Also? He prefers to do an episiotomy immediately so that he has "total control over the environment."

They are trying to decide between a home birth -- previously inconceivable to a pair of health care industry professionals -- and driving ~2 hours to Memphis to have baby #2.

[ktjrdn]

something's wrong. Dod you change your feed? I can't get any new posts in my google reader.

[FishyGirl]

Photo books -- hmmm. You mean we're not supposed to keep them in shoe boxes? Really?

[Janelle]

Here's to skipping town! *insert drinking noise here*

[Cheryll]

Funny!

[kate]

Newcastle? what about Yuengling? C'mon, you know you're going to miss the Yuengling. Being 7 months pregnant with my third, I should be drinking, but in the best interest of the little one, you can do it for me!

[Lauren]

Ah, Ray Ray's.... I can't believe those people who could possibly buy unclassy Bling.

I had to physically drag my husband away from trying to shop at "Superbad" in Charleston. Although he really wanted some pimp clothes.

Oh, and the music building is gorgeous!

[Lisa]

A good friend of mine lives in Mississippi... and actually enjoys it! Of course she says it'll never measure up to home (Ohio). Hey, maybe if I win one of those nifty HP photo books I can send one full of Ohio photos to her as a gift!

[heathersway]

That would be a perfect in-law's Christmas gift for sure! You could put in all the scathing pics and captions from your blog. I think the "we're doing the nasty" sign on the door would make an especially great cover photo :D

[Happy Housewife]

Wow, those pics bring back memories of my hometown in Oklahoma...ick

[Vicky]

Wow that orange bridesmaid dress is to die for.

[emily]

ok- i've been reading for about 3 weeks and am caught up on all past entries, i think, and i have to say, you are my new best friend! pathetic, i know, but really, we are so alike- you are far taller and much more educated, but i share your thoughts and feelings on pretty much all subjects covered. i am a southerner, but do not fit in and have very few friends. most of the good friends i had in knoxville- my former home- were from somewhere else. it is hard living in the south, even in the lesser-redneck areas, and i dread trying to raise the kids in this atmosphere of shitty schools, ignorance and heat, humidity and allergies. my life was almost ruined when we moved to a very backward area where i spent my 7th-12th grade years- the formative years- and now i'm right back in the next county over from there, with kids of my own. i feel the need to shelter them from all that is the redneck south, while trying to make the best of our life here- we are not leaving any time soon....
keep it up, and i will be faithfully reading every day and commenting from time to time- i'm sure i can suggest some blog fodder you can check out if life in atlanta proves too boring- have you ever been to pigeon forge and gatlinburg, tn? you would shit your pants! and probably blog for a month afterward....

[Jen]

Photo books ROCK!

[Jo]

Nice photos! I can't wait to hear more.

[ragtopday]

I love photos! I love photo books!

And man, those photos of Mississippi (I spelled that by chanting the song in my head) - yowza! (apologizes to any readers from the state - I'm sure it's quite lovely!).

[geena]

OMG i do not think i could survive there....

[Angie in Texas]

heehee . . . that must have been one BIG sausage to come out with a sausage ball *that* big. (when done right they're supposed to be just a touch smaller than a golf ball.)

. . .OMG, i think i've been living in the texan 'burbs for too long . . .

[Divrchk]

Photo books are great! Mississippi, not so much.

[Jessica]

OK, sausage balls are the yummiest balls ever. They are a southern get-together staple and require just bisquick, sausage, and cheese. You will learn to love them..or I did anyway. Maybe I am just not very picky...

[Katie]

Mississippi sounds a lot like where I just moved from in Louisiana. 5 years of purgatory! We're in AL now and oddly, it's MUCH better. I'd love a photo book to chronicle the LA days.

[lucky]

I got your blog from a close friend. And being from MS, I couldn't help but read it! I see your point on some of the things. But in most of your comments, you sound bitter and out of place not smart.
I just got back from teaching school in China. You want to talk about hot, weird food and strange people. But, I accepted them for who they were as people (not where they were from).
I live in the Jackson area. There is so many cool things going on: art shows, great coffee shops, unique shopping, etc. But, it is not like a BIG city. You have to go out and find it!
With that being said, I bid you GOOD LUCK in your journey. Hopefully, one day your attitude in general will change. I am sure that I could find flaws with where you grew up...or with you. Nothing is perfect...remember that!

[Carrie T.]

So...it's not beef carpaccio or foie gras....but sausage balls are incredible. It's cheese, sausage, and bisquick. YUM! I'd still rather have the foie gras though.

[Diatribal]

Us Arkies LOVE Mississippi! They make us look good!

Come to Little Rock. I have lived around here most of my life, and I really like it. Though I have traveled all over the place, I still can't imagine living anywhere but here. (Although we may be moving to Michigan in the summer.)Good luck with your decision!

[Damselfly]

Well, the antiques store looks like it coulda been fun, anyway...

Where I live, it's not a bona-fide small town unless there's a Badcock furniture store on the main drag.

[Michele]

So you are trading in sausage balls for scrapple?

Im in Delaware, if you ever need a rescue!

[Jennifer]

Ok, my mistake. Columbus is about 2.5 hours from here.

[Jennifer]

Too bad you're leaving. I just found your blog and from what I can discern you don't live that far from me.

Good luck with the move. We just moved and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Granted, it was only a few miles, but those long distance moves bite (BTDT).

I hope you find a place you can be happy, and have all that your heart desires. Though living with the IL's, I can't imagine that will be any time soon.

[Fizzle]

I was going to say that Mississippi's been such wonderful fodder. Should I mentally just switch to MIL mode??

Glad you're getting out of there!

[mrscrumley]

I was in Starkville last weekend (Auburn game), and I wondered if you lived near there. As a child I moved many times (my dad's an AF chaplain), I know this is an interesting time. Hope it all goes well and your actual travel is smooth.

[Pattie]

Woo Hoo! Glad to hear you are getting out of Hee Haw hell...gee, the pics of your town made me sweat. It reminds me of some of the country towns down here in good Ol' North Carolina...I will miss your Mississippi stories, though. Bring on the in-laws! Good Luck with the move.

[scatteredmom]

While I was scrolling through your pictures my son looked over my shoulder and asked what the sausage ball was. When I explained that it was food from the southern USA he said,

"It looks like animal guts mixed together."

"It's a sausage ball."

"Gross Mom, that's just too much information."

Hee hee hee!

[joy]

the sausage balls? how can you say goodbye to the sausage balls? they look like a tasty, meaty treat. and balls. they look like balls.

wishing you all the luck in the world right now as you traverse this next stage in your life. hang in there, lady:)

[GIRLS GONE CHILD]

That was awesome. Happy Move'n, lady.

[Mary-LUE]

Good luck. It's New Jersey, right? I hope jobs and in-laws and the move and anything that needs to go well, does.

[Mrs. Chicky]

Shoot, I thought I had already wished you happy trails. Sorry about that. Good luck with your move, have a safe trip, and try not to kill your in-laws in their sleep.

[Kristin]

Geez... I thought the entire South would look like your university campus...

I think I would opt for 5 months in Arkansas... 5 months with the in-laws with a new baby and no sleep sounds deadly.

[krista]

I can't even imagine. You are a strong woman.

[chichimama]

Happy travels...I lived with my in-laws pregnant, and while I dreaded it, it wasn't (quite) as bad as I thought, upon reflection two years after the fact. Good luck.

At least in Philly you will have lots to do and plenty of like-minded parents to try and meet.

[Sunshine Scribe]

That was fun. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Here's hoping Philly is a wonderful change ... living with the inlawas and cohorting with the BFF should have loads of blog fodder!

Happy move!

[Lady M]

Farewell, farewell! Are you sure you don't want to pick up something at "Looking Good" to take with you for old times sake?

The music building looks beautiful.

[Leeny]

Hey, hon, Little Rock isn't so bad! It's actually quite pretty. My husband has a cousin who lives there (we live in Texas). I'm sorry you didn't like Miss. or at least the area where you lived. The people there aren't representative of the entire South, honest! Just sayin', that hope your less than fun experience there didn't color your whole opinion of the South. I have a BIL who grew up outside the Philly area, since you mentioned it. Good luck with your move!

[Mom101]

LOOKING GOOD is the best part of that entire thing. Hoo boy. But the beer trailer does come a close second.

I am shedding tears of joy at your imminent departure. Godspeed, MU! Godspeed.

[BFF]

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I'm puttin' on the coffee now, sister! I'll even get snacks, too, and I promise I won't charge you...lol

Juuust--no can do on the sausage balls or biscuits or gizzards or chitlins' or... Okay, enough. I almost just burped puke.

P.S. (I thought we'd get the serenade!!)

[Dawn]

I swear I hear "Candle in the Wind" playing right now...

[Christina]

Aside from the university, it looks a lot like the small town in OH that I'm from. Only my town had less y'all's and racism (but only less - not totally gone).

You poor thing - you have no ideal situation in front of you for the short term, do you? Live with your inlaws, move to Arkansas only to move back months later - the choices are almost painful. Here's hoping your blogging can be theraputic to keep you sane.

[Ruth Dynamite]

I'm still laughing at Fresh Mommy's use of "sweet, merciful crap." (Was she talking about the sausage ball?)

Good luck with the move and transition. Your in-laws will be a big help, and you'll have your friend. It'll be an adventure.

[Kathleen Marie]

I would be really curious to hear what you think about all this in 20 years. It is amazing how our perspectives change with age.

Your little one will really enjoy being around her grandmother. Grandmother's like to spoil. :)

[Melissa]

I could have lived without the visual of the Sausage Ball. Really, I could have.

YAY you! I'm glad you're moving, especially to a town with friends and Starbucks...and where it's illegal to marry your cousins. ;)

[Suz]

Delaware? Near Philly? You could be headed near my hometown of Wilmington. It's a good place to be, at least I remember it as such.

[something blue]

I used to think that I could live anywhere as long as I had a lot of channels on my TV, but I don't think anywhere include that Mississippi town.

Good luck with the drive. I imagine there will have to be a lot of stops with a toddler and a mama-to-be. Even more luck with Surviving with the In Laws. Sounds like reality TV!

[Redneck mommy]

I will miss the Miss. posts.

However, I eagerly await the MIL posts. Because I'm wondering if there is another MIL out there who can rival mine. I shudder at the thought.

Good luck.

[mamatulip]

While the deep south has been great blog fodder, I think living with the IL's might just be better.

[Jess R]

My god woman, what you have endured. Looking forward to the updates on the new living situation. How long will you be with the ILs?

[dutch]

damn you. you must have known that upon seeing this I would want to move to mississippi, and I just unpacked our last box.

seriously, this might be one of my favorite MU posts.

[Blog_Antagonist]

LOL! I've been to Mississippi and I can completely understand your glee at leaving it behind. I visited Gulfport/Biloxi (not by choice, oldest child played in USSSA World Series there) which as you probably know is a casino/resort town and probably marginally more civilized than the rest of Mississippi. And still it was very. scary.

The humidity, the bugs, the rednecks...I once said Alabama was the armpit of the south, but I may have to rethink that.

Good luck with your move. I assume the thing with the IL's is temporary?

[Fresh Mommy]

Okay, that looks like one of the dreariest towns in the entire United States. Bravo to you for surviving the horror that is Mississippi (the horror! the horror!). Although, part of it must be nice, right? Somewhere?

Good luck with the in-laws. Okay, I'm sure it really sucks for you, and I sympathize, I really do, but personally, I can't wait to read all about it.

[karyn]

Sweet merciful crap, where should we send awards for surviving a many-year stint in that town?

[Stacy]

Good luck with the ILs! I'm spending a long weekend with mine, starting today and dreading it.

Geesh... what a depressing town. Did you mention where your ILs live or did I miss that? Where R you going? 4 how long?

[Mother]

PS That's really a sausage biscuit.

Sorry for the confusion.

LOL

[FishyGirl]

My best friends are from a dinky little town in western PA that looks about the same, and they have some of their own weirdisms (youns guys), so if you ever get "homesick" you can visit there.

Good luck with the move - we lived with my inlaws for about a year before we were married, and then six years after we were married we bought the house a block away (but only with the knowledge that they were moving away soon), and wow. I flat out refuse to live with them again.

Can't wait to hear your stories.

[Amanda]

Haha..KY is north compared to there...well, not really..it depends on what part of ky you are in...

Still, I think I'd be more comfortable there than in a big city. And, no it doesn't look very quaint but my town is... I'll have to post some photos on my blog of my current university town and where I grew up. BTW, do you know what a holler is? LOL.

We are actually considering moving even more south closer to a beach.

[Mrs. CPA]

That is some Mississippi bastardization of a sausage ball. I don't know what the hell that is. Because when they are done correctly they are about the size of a rum ball, and are delicious, ya'll. (ha!)

[mothergoosemouse]

Worse than I thought. Much, much worse. I can't believe you bought your wedding gown at that store. That is, I can't believe that store carried such an elegant dress.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Jersey you go! And thank god for that.

[JChase]

Awww, it looks so quaint...

JUST KIDDING! JUST KIDDING!

(Don't ban me...I couldn't resist...) :)

Can't wait to have you home!

[Carolyn]

The music school building is breathtaking. That being said, I hear some pretty remarkeable renovations are happening in Kensington. A prime location for scenic music instruction... I think so.

[Katie]

Thank you for the photo tour - was great yal! However! I can't wait for the IL stories! PLEEAASE don't leave anything out! I'll trade you some of my stories if you want; f.e. my FIL and SIL live next door and they took a lot of training (though my FIL still likes to drop the odd " Well, I know somebody who can't stand it when somebody else enters her house without knocking haha" line and I'm left thinking WTF? I tend to walk around half dressed, enter at your own risk if you want, but try knocking first - it isn't THAT difficult! God, it still p'ses me off!

[Kristen]

I love the photos. They paint a vivid picture of where you lived. Can't wait for the MIL stories.

[martstar]

The church crosswalk is cracking me up. Great photos. Makes me a little homesick - although our beer trailor had a drive-thru window.

[Mother]

If you like KY - you probably wouldn't mind my town - however KY is practically "THE NORTH" compared to here.

And HEY I'm from NJ - it's way better. I PROMISE.

And if someone says the word "QUAINT" in reference to this town, I may have to ban you.

[Kvetch]

I loved the photos. I have to tell you that it's much worse than I ever imagined it. Now at least when you tell your in-law tales, I'll have a realistic mental picture.

Safe travels!!!

[mayberry]

OK, the sausage ball is Just. Gross.

[Maniacal]

Yea, those pictures are a little scary. But I live in NJ, so what do I know.

[mamadaisy]

When I consider whether I want to move to a specific town, I first go to the closest quick-stop store and count the number of jerky varieties. If there are more than half a dozen or, god forbid, an entire aisle devoted to jerky, I know I am in the wrong place.

[Amanda]

Yep. I live in KY.

[Andrea]

Yes, In Laws HO! Good luck. May you have better luck with living with your in-laws than I did when my sister-in-law lived with us.

[Suebob]

Onward! I can't wait to hear the in-law stories.

[Mother]

Amanda ~

Don't you live in KY? :)

[Amanda]

ya know, it doesnt look all that bad. LOL. It's possible that I could be comfortable in Miss. Kind of looks like my town. I could show you some pics from the small town I grew up in and you would think Miss. was paradise. Seriously. But where I am now in a small university town, it's comparable to your small miss. town except we dont have those run down buildings nor do we have a trailer restaurant but there are alot of trailer homes here.

I hope your move goes smoothly.