Armando esta aqui

Armando came to dinner at Lauderdale this evening!

i made roasted chicken, pear and gorgonzola salad, sweet chili rice, sister shubert's rolls, and Moose tracks ice cream for dessert! it was delish, if i do say so myself!

Sweet armando was such a champ! he easily handled the lot of us! not a job for the weak boys. He more than worked the room. here's to you, armando!

here! check it out!





Lets hear it for a good midweek dinner with friends, good wine, and general fun.

peace out!

Crave-n Some Tunes

Tonight Richie (Roe) Craven played at the Basement. He did great! Here are pics from the evening.
i make note of this because:
1. he did really well.
2. i don't often go out on a "school night"
3. we take pictures. its what we do.
4. i like you and i like you to like me.







night night.

Loose Ends

I tell myself you are feeling the pangs of addiction as you realize i have not posted anything in the last few days. (allow me the sweet delusion a while longer). :)

Well, since last we "spoke", there have been some exciting moments. They are as follows:

- The seminar went REALLY well (in spite of 1.5 hours of sleep the night before)!! i taught on "Prioritizing and Purging your Belongings" to a group of roughly 20 ladies. It was a huge moment for me as i conquered the insecurities i had about publicly speaking on something i feel so new to. It was absolutely a success and i am hoping to see business come from it! We raised a few thousand for Habitat for Humanity as well, so it was just a great day!

- i followed up the seminar on saturday with driving to Huntsville for Emily and Justin's wedding shower! it was great to see them and enjoy some chili and beer with the Huntsvegas crew. After celebrating the couple and some sweet time with kayla, i hit the road only to arrive back in the ville at 1:06. i know this because i estimated 1:08 and almost drove around the neighborhood just to be right. :)

- I have been running to get ready for my race with angela in nearly ONE MONTH! i have managed to damage something on/in my right knee. i am avoiding a doctor's visit as i am sure it will result in the suggestion that i not run. Since that is not an option, i will power through. i do, however, reserve the right to whine here on this blog.

- i just have to say that i am positively happy. I am not entirely sure what makes me so intent on noting it, but i just am. maybe it is the fact that i just ate left over stew for breakfast and (post run) laid down on the couch for about 20 minutes of uninterrupted couch potato bliss. it is SO nice!

- Coco and Jimmy are back from the Keys! all is right in the world!

more later, you know this...

Films for 2008

We're off to a good start, folks!

I have a pretty diverse taste in films. I can go for the silly chick flick just as easily as the dark indie film. 2008 is bringing it so far!

i "recommend" (read, "if you watch it and like it- you're welcome. if you are offended and it makes you want to change your opinion of me... well... we're probably not close".) the following:

1. There Will Be Blood- masterful. disturbing. i am still thinking/talking about it. genius.
2. Juno- brill! kinda 2007, but you know what i mean.
3. Bucket List- mom and dad will LOVE it! so cute.
4. Margot at the Wedding- real. inventive. totally different role for Jack Black- which he masters.

there will be more... for which i am quite excited! what are some of your favorites thus far?

i bid you all g'nite.

uh... TFIG?

Club Organize

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here to tell you of an exciting opportunity! Worried I am about to promote a pyramid scheme? ha ha... no. The subject of my excitement is none other than...

CLUB ORGANIZE!! careful not to confuse it with Club Med, folks. its easy to do.

This weekend at Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN there will be a weekend full of seminars geared toward giving you your most organized self! With seminars that include Organizing 101, Organizing and A.D.D., Wardrobe 101, Closet Designs, etc, and even a light lunch- it is worth your attendance! Better still, it is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity! For $115, you get two days worth of knowledge, a meal, a panel discussion, a seminar taught by YOURS TRULY on "Purging and Prioritizing your Belongings", and a warm heart for having contributed to a worthy cause. ALSO- its "buy one ticket, get the second free"!! Let me know if you want more info!!

I'm excited. I'm feeling legit. YIPPIE!!

ta ta.

Rest in Peace?

I have to tell you- I'm a little surprised by how affected I am by the news of Heath Ledger's death earlier today.

I, strangely enough, learned of his death on the local Nashville news. I never learn things from the local news, so that was bizarre in its own right. The lack of details and circumstances almost act as a comfort. (yes... i needed comfort) I feel that when people say someone was "found in their apartment" it is only a matter of time before evidence of a suicide surfaces. It was nice to not instantly go there but to hope something else had played a part.

It makes me wonder so many things. He was a father, for pete's sake. what about Matilda? Was he lonely? Did he question his contribution to this life? I find myself wondering how many people hear the news of his death and feel guilty for envying his situation- it makes me want to find and love them.

The most haunting aspect, to me, is the fact that he was admittedly without faith. Regardless of where you come from on the faith spectrum- be it faith in Christ the Son of God or faith in the lack there of- it is impossible to not recognize a brutal finality. This life ends. Why is it always a hard reminder? of course it is my fate, but i am somehow always taken aback when death rears its head. In situations like this, there is little room for comfort because of the fact that hope is missing. As a believer in Jesus Christ i hold tight to that fact that in other death realities, there is joy. Joy for lack of pain, Joy for eternity. Joy. Here, there is a strange hollow sadness.

Now, you may be thinking, "why do you care so much?" and i don't have a good answer. All i know is that i heard the news and was utterly sad. shocked and sad. Katherine and i talked on the phone about the depth of the sadness we both felt- neither sure why it hit so hard. Perhaps we felt a kinship with this man who shares our age or because we've somewhat (inadvertently) followed his career? Maybe the simple reason his name and face are easily recognizable... who knows? The truth is that a soul has left this earth and there is a void felt by his friends, family, and fans.

Death puts life into perspective. It makes me want to hold to things that are true: Bottom line- this earth, and its temporary pain, is not my Home.

too sleepy

too tired to blog tonight, homies. it was a long day!

i will leave you with a funny clip from my new favorite guilty pleasure of a tv show- Rob and Big!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpXvDhwQXZg

sleep tight.

interesting content promised for tomorrow.

Weekend Wrap Up

I think it is going to be difficult to blog on the weekends- ordinarily, i just get all caught up in the excitements!

Let me give y'all a play by play of a mundane kirker weekend. In order to make much of what was your average weekend, i will detail it for you here. i know... you're welcome.

It felt like the weekend started on Thursday because we had company. Matt showed up with Howdy (see previous post). He and Anna attended a recognition dinner for Northwestern Mutual. I am told that at one point, leslie dropped a wine glass and Matt (with perfect timing) yelled, "Mazel Tov". Let that be a lesson to you. Matt is good people. he just needs to move here already... k, matt?

Friday brought the excitement of starting my house sitting gig for the weekend. My job has been to care for two large and lovable labs, one sprightly cat, and one amazing home. I got to have lunch with Beth at Marche'. it was lovely! After a few hours of attic organizing for Charlotte, my evening was feeling like it would need to be low key. it involved Sarah, a bottle of wine, and an episode or three of "What Not to Wear"... exactly what i was in the mood for.

Saturday found me waking up to "the boys" ready to go out! After a couple episodes of "Rob and Big" (side note: if you have not availed yourself of this show- YOU MUST! it is the dark horse of MTV series. i know- that's not saying much. suffice it to say- hilarity, thy name is Rob and Big. i have two words for you... mini horse.), i was on my way to organize for Renee. After some really satisfying hours of organizing, I headed to Joanna's to get SCHOOLED at Wii. I had some shocking lack of skills, friends. now- i am not a complete screw up. I have some accomplishments in my life for which i take joy in. Wii is not one of them. I am a tad "Wii-tarded". Guitar Hero is something i will need to just admire from afar. i. was. terrible. Jo is a freakin rock star at all things wii. I did make one home run on baseball, though! holler! After Wii University, i went to Laudy to see my roomies and friends. There was a bunch of laughter, a dramatic read aloud or two and such. I finished up the evening with some dog time.

Sunday brought a morning of training. I got my run on. it was COLD but these legs gotta get ready for the half marathon at the beginning of March!! I re-watched "Saved" and laughed while i drifted off to a little snooze before church (ironically, i s'pose.) Craig spoke about Jacob again and it was great. Finished up the evening with potato soup and beer at Molly's. Don't think we missed the opportunity to dance to some JT in the dining room just because we could.

Bottom line- not every moment is going to be riveting, but Lord knows they'll always be a story to tell. that's how i roll. i roll for you.

adieu for now.

I hope you each take a moment, as i plan to, to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tomorrow. Feel free to share any comments regarding your appreciation of his heroics...

Howdy

besides being a traditional country greeting, it is also the name of our house guest this weekend. Howdy is a fabulous lab... you will instantly love him.

my roomates will be first to tell you that i am anti-dog on lauderdale. Not because i don't think they're great, because i do. I also love 4 legged walking buddies. Further more, i love Bennett, coco's dog. see? i'm a dog liker. i just never had one growing up, so i don't "go with the flow" like normal people. I mean- i still get annoyed if one goes to the bathroom in the house, chews up a shoe, etc. I also enjoy my freedom as it were. Making sure to go home to let the dog out is not on my radar for a decade or so.

ALL that said, i would like to tell you that Howdy is a delight! having a dog visit is the answer! he's so cute!

Here's a video of Matt's labors to get sweet Howdy to play dead. he just couldn't stop wagging that tail! it cracked me up! Better still is the other video i will add of Howdy "singing" while matt plays the harmonica!

so talented!


so, here's to you, howdy! you're always welcome for a visit!

Idolatry

Hi. My name is kelley and i am an addict. to american idol!!!

i mean... it is almost as exciting as "hair cut day"! i am already poised and ready for tonight's installment of awesomeness. Sure, there are those among us who only tune in for the first few episodes to catch the freak shows. i used to be you. I am a convert. Coco helped me see the error of my ways last year! i even considered not caring this year... but last night sealed it. i have one word for you...

temptress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpG0IJN2gy8

while it was wildly hilarious, i have a couple thoughts. they include but are not limited to the following:

- the producers are bad people that make us laugh. it is a virtual guarantee that if you see a back story, they are going to be a train wreck. is nothing sacred? i just sat there last night saying, "bless...." i am not interested in mocking the mentally ill or morbidly obese. i'll tune in, but i won't like it! ...much.

- have these people never seen the show? did the princess leah chick really think she was what america was waiting for?? i mean... someone stop these people. friends don't let friends humiliate themselves. ok... sometimes they do but not when this stuff gets sold to E and will essentially be in syndication! c'mon!

- i hate when they don't show the good ones perform! i am actually interested in them too! who knew?

- i have a crush on simon. if you ever bring it up again, i'll deny it. i'm just saying....

i'm staying with Claire tonight and we'll enjoy a wintery mix... maybe i'll get stranded and we'll have to drink hot toddys by the fire all day while we watch Anne of Green Gables or something!!
a girl can dream.

creepy...

For a while now, i have noticed the clock at the same time (usually) twice a day. I see the clock at precisely 12:34. not 12:35..... 12:34.

i like it because it is 1234. I also love when i catch 12:48 because 1 doubled is 2 doubled is 4 doubled is 8.

does this mean i'm smart?

or does it mean i'm going to spend my adulthood rocking in a corner?

i also started waking up exactly 2 minutes before my alarm every day. uh oh....

Rainy Days and Mondays

Karen Carpenter said it best... "rainy days and Mondays always get me down". I can't even tell you why. strange, huh?

I constantly learn things about myself. One of them being this: i am results/rewards driven. There's gotta be a carrot on the end of a string to get this girl excited. Now, it could be something like, "if you study hard for this exam, you'll pass college" or "run consistently and you'll finish with a respectable time for that half marathon", etc. It could also be something vague or completely trivial. For example, most days i wake up excited because i have found one fun thing to look forward to. When i was 9 it would be for something really important like my brand new, white, canvas Keds. These days it is probably something like a fun/random evening planned with friends or the opportunity to take a nap later in the day.

Today i woke up with no "exciting" prospects. I had a strange morning of dreaming (because that's when it all really happens, right?!) and awoke to find myself already a little late. I rushed and got to work in time to sit around all day. I enjoy the way i am making ends meet these days, but my passion is organizing. I want to be doing that all day every day. Alas- i must wait until it becomes lucrative enough to not have any safety nets. While i did get to, ultimately, go hear some fun music at Mercy Lounge (Justin's girlfriend Cristi and her friend Mandy threw down some good tunes!), it was still just a... monday.

Here are some things that are true:
- i have an amazing life. i've no room to complain about, well, anything.
- i have a wonderful group o' friends/sissers in Nashville. again... so blessed.
- sometimes i turn into Debbie Downer for a few hours. deal.

On a totally different note, if you consider yourself a praying person, feel free to do so for Cam and Carol. My sweet parents are at something of a crossroads. More on that later. thanks.

cheers.

Lucie Loo

I babysit one of the cutest human children that (nearly) crawls this Earth. Her name is Lucienne- Lucie for short.

i love her.

she's so stinking adorable that I volunteer to babysit for her on Saturday nights. That, of course, means i have to cancel dates with handsome bachelors. she's worth it.

Tonight was a great night with the wee one. She slept for a couple hours on my chest. is there anything sweeter? (insert gagging noises for any male readership).

chelsea and Adrienne came over and we watched "Dan in Real Life" together. pretty fabulous all together.

I'm tired and i have a running date with 50 friends in the morning. i haven't been running.

Did i mention i am doing a half marathon with Angela in MARCH?!?!? yeah... i am. it is official- i give myself too much credit. this body has some work to do!

g'night.

Fast Friends

I like that term- fast friends.

I have been a very fortunate girl and have had a handful of them in my life. I do not take this lightly- i get that i am ridiculously blessed! My favorite part of a fast friend is when you've only been talking a few moments and it occurs to both parties that you're supposed to be friends.

that has happened for me, most recently, in the form of Christin! For her sake, i will not butcher her last name. or divulge such information on this- the most world wide of webs. Alas- Christin and i met at church a few (?) months ago, while sitting next to each other, and we quickly struck up an easy conversation. She's fabulous and we just had coffee this evening. I feel you, my readership, need to know some of the fun reasons that christin and i are now besties.

They include but are not limited to the following:

1. We both have YMCA membership keychain pictures with a cut-out of Fabio in the background.
2. We have both done triathlons.
3. We have a similar love for indie films such as, "Lars and the Real Girl"
4. We are the two people here that are equally nashville music industry clueless
5. We both have fitness/ running aspirations for 2008

There were so many more things to list but i just am too tired. You should really know her... i'm just telling you. When you meet her, you should say happy birthday.

I have a 6:30am "appointment" at Best One Tires for a LONG overdue oil change, so this girl's gotta head to bed.

I find myself exceedingly grateful for such a fun week.

night night.

ps. i know what you're thinking... "is she going to give us highlights from the local chapter meeting of the Nat'l Association of Professional Organizers that meets tomorrow at Shoneys?" the answer is yes, of course! just hold your horses...

Warn this!

If false storm warnings are wrong, i don't wanna be right!

There was supposed to be an enormous band of storms tonight that should have produced tornados, etc. Per usual- this was not the case. Nothing happened. not one gust! Bottom line: every time one of these comes across the wire, i do the same thing. I grab my bike helmet and book it to the pantry. Well, this time, i decided not to. I snuggled up to the kitchen table with june, anna, and adrienne for some dinner! I even fried some chicken, for goodness' sake! (something i never eat or prepare!) We proceded to enjoy some tasty treats such as the chicken, roasted tomatoes with pesto, roast spaghetti squash and LOTS o' vino. The answer, ladies and gentlemen, is wine. Good, delicious, red wine. We all sat around the table and just enjoyed each other's company. We then moved into the "parlor" and played jenga while listening to Justin Timberlake. we are, it seems, seventeen years old.

It was a fabulous evening on the heels of a good day. can't complain.

So... New Hampshire primaries, huh? yeah.....

Morphing and Sundries

So... i actually just spent the last hour or so using a web site's ability to morph my face with others. Since seeing "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days", i have thought it would be SO hilarious to, one day, freak a guy out using our pictures to see imaginary kids. What...? is that weird?

Well, tonight, our house-full is sitting around the living room with our 4 computers set up and just clicking away. Pretty funny. or sad. Jury's out...

This has been a fun day, i must say (and rhyme, evidently.) The only thing that would have made it better would have been some time with coco... i miss her so bad.

So- back to the day. I started things off with my favorite 3 month old- Lucie. we kicked it til late afternoon when i transitioned to a long walk with June. our purpose was to work off some calories, but we definitely just walked to dinner. it was great, though. I love when a friend's layers appear in new ways. that happened tonight at Calypso Cafe. it was great. Never you mind the fact i was coughing so loud that people looked around for the creature making the bronchial barks.

ALSO- it was 70 degrees today! what on earth? i will not concede to Al's notion of world wide heating (he lost me with "Internet"), but i will agree this is nuts for January! It has me SO PUMPED for spring! man... I'm even A.D.D. with my seasons... always excited about the next one. I need to slow down and smell the anti-freeze.

Here's a confession- i "morphed" a picture of kris and me and then actually had the nerve to be disappointed when there was no difference. what did i expect?!

A Future and a Hope

As i begin this post, i am tempted to do what i usually do... keep it light. make you laugh, etc. Tonight i have to just be honest and tell you whats going on inside of me. I was just reminded by my roommate that the capability to be honest is something i appreciate in others SO much- why would i not do the same?

so- if you do not enjoy the realities of a messy spirituality... you will probably want to stop reading now.

For the rest of you- here's what i am working through.

I tend to settle. In nearly every area of my life, my first tendency is to settle for the easier, more exciting, more comfortable, less difficult, more sexy options out there. I guess on some level it comes down to laziness- don't want to "put the work" in. I think that ultimately it is something bigger. Allow me to cut away to thoughts from the sermon tonight.

The passage we studied was Genesis 29 where we heard about Jacob's (pardon the expression) 'duping' by his father-in-law. Jacob was in love with Rachel but her father tricked Jacob into marrying her sister Leah first. Jacob worked for years and years to be with Rachel and she was his beloved. Leah is the one to be pitied in this story- destined to knowingly live as the less-loved wife. The crazy part of the story is how Jacob wakes up the morning after the first wedding and, surprise! he's now married to Leah instead of Rachel. What disappointment and confusion he must have felt.

Craig suggested, this evening, that anything we hope (in the deep sense- meaning trusting/ waiting expectantly) for except Christ is going to "Leah." Bottom line- any relationship, business venture, personal goal, need: spiritual, mental, or physical, or dream that is not rooted in the Person of Christ will be nothing more than a cheap imitation of the real thing. It can only hope to be, at best, a disappointment.

Now, i am not one to quickly process information. It takes me a little longer than most. I have been allowing that truth to swirl around in my brain since earlier this evening. I keep coming back to what Craig mentioned at the end of the sermon and it is this: The answer is to be the loved... not religious. All the religion stuff would mean trotting home to read my Bible (not bad.. just not the right thing when it is on a checklist), pray more, help old ladies across the street. Being "the loved" means simply embracing the Christ.

That sounds so wonderful to me. if i am honest with you, though, there's a disconnect for me. I do not know how to be the loved without the religion stuff. My idea of "reconnecting" is to do the religion stuff. I need to simply stand in wonder at the fact that my Savior has delivered me- especially from settling for the cheap imitations i start to believe are the best i deserve.

I need to sit here in it (all of the Truth) and absorb.

Do you know how to "be" without "doing"?

Catch Up and Patriotism

Somehow i keep getting behind at the updates. Ok... here you have it.

I WON THE BIGGEST LOSER for our family!! you should know that i won because i lost 7 pounds. It turns out that i am really the only one who even attempted, but ladies and gentlemen- it was for dolla bills! this girl is gloating all the way to the bank! Perhaps i will continue to recommend games that i can win!

Tonight we (a bunch o' ladies) celebrated Chancey Philips. Chancey Pants (as i call her) turned 24 today. In order to make much of her special day, we all ate a fine greek dinner complete with a band. It made me want to scream "OOOOPAH"! Fabulous food. We did a quick costume change and a tranzish over to the sportsplex for an evening of ice skating. Our dress up theme was, "Red, White, and Blue: these colors don't run". I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Birthday Girl!

the crew

I made a wrap out of blue tights...

Sidenote: It feels like Wednesday to me. So glad it is the weekend! How else could i be watching "Hope Floats" at midnight and falling in love with Harry Connick Jr. all over again?!

Resolute

So... after a slight hiatus, i am back. that's right- and ready to roll with my yearly resolutions. I suppose it should be mentioned that my college friends and i annually make lists of goals for the year, so i tend to view New Years as a secondary priority. nevertheless, i am down for making some resolutions. I mean... who doesn't love a clean slate from which to operate?!

My idea is to set goals i find complete pleasure in meeting... thus- pressures off! you should know that i have freed myself up from my previous goal of finishing an Ironman before the age of 30. I mean... i suppose it could still happen, but i needed to free up. in the last three years i have finished 7 tri's: 6 sprints and one of them being a full length beast. i need to celebrate that and free myself up for doing something different that i enjoy. when you're this A.D.D., you gotta toss it up! So, where was i? oh yes- resolutions!

In the theme of fun goals, one is to see more movies. i stole this from Sarah June. it seemed wonderful to me. I secretly love a good matinee by my lonesome... perhaps this is my year to make that a habit.

Secondly, i said i would like to kiss more. OK, OK.... thats silly and a tad (OK, totally) self serving, but who doesn't get excited about fulfilling it?? i digress..

thirdly, i made the annual weight loss commitment. this year i want a Britney body.... pre-baby of course! i am all about taking advantage of time and money to control myself. this is my year!

lastly and not least, i have resolved to blog regularly! this goes beyond serving the masses and touches on my need to document my life. so... here's to you!

So, friend... what are yours?