The Highs and Lows

REALLY busy work week that i love but has me exhausted... Check.
A handful of babies and wedding to celebrate... Check.
Weathering Gas Crisis 08... Check.
Weekend Bachelorette Party for Becca... Check.
My heart broken for Beth and family... Check.
Grandma seemingly approaching death... Check.

I'm feeling kind of all over the place today. That's why.

xoxo
k

Reunion

So... last night i had the most fun experience of "reuniting" with a friend from high school. Here's the thing- we haven't seen each other since then... eleven years ago.

Thank goodness for Facebook (if i had a penny for every time i said that... haha... just kidding.. kind of.) because that is how i learned of Michael's arrival to the Music City!

Here's what i absolutely love about catching up with old friends (which my sister pointed out that i have a propensity for): realizing the ways that I have changed and developed as a person and appreciating ways they have also. It was so nice to get together with Michael and get to talk about the real stuff of life and just enjoy each others company. it was just delightful!

So, here's to old friends, Bosco's (the friendly neighborhood microbrewery), and the world feeling small again.

sleepless in nashville

lately, i am having trouble winding down at night in enough time to get good sleep. Here's the problem... Once I make it past 9:30p or so (what? i get sleepy early!), i am up til 1am minimum. Its not intentional. Its just that once i get the second wind- i am UP and at 'em.

This would be so easily solved if i were willing to just go to bed at 9:30p. Unfortunately, i am not. I almost always have something to do; an issue to consider, laundry to do, people to spend time with, an award winning program on the tele to watch- things of this nature.

I am realizing, as i write this, that this is more of a rhetorical post. I'm not all that interested in "calming down" rememdies. i am more interested in telling you what a nut i am. I mean, seriously, i walk around tired during the day out of sleep deprivation but cannot get around to going to bed at a decent hour.

hmmmm.

being a night owl can be kind of lonely. but- at least i scoured the new "Real Simple" and am now something of a whiz at "streamlining my skin-care routine". standard girl stuff.

incidentally, the good ole fever blister is 90% gone (hallelujah) but i just have other nagging ailments like swollen glands and such. i wonder what in the world my body is warding off.

As i attempt to doze off, I will leave you with an "instant" organizing tip from R.S.:

purchase a shoe organizer for electronics/chargers. hang it over the door and label the compartments.

genius.

wait.... i just yawned. yay!

Girl Alert

I love feeling special.

Weekend Goodness

what a weekend!

On Friday, i had no idea what my weekend would look like. After the Family Dinner (at CCEN), i had high hopes for a night on the town with Meg. Alas, i was SO TIRED at 9pm that i took a swan dive into my bed! if that ain't the essence of 29, i don't know what is.

Before calling it a night, though, Neal tells me of an adventure waiting for me... my inaugural trip to see the University of Tennessee Volunteers play some good ole SEC football. (in case you're keeping up, that means that in three weekends, i have attended THREE SEC football games... for free!!) thrilling.

So, when i rolled out of bed at 6:30am, in order to get to Neal's by 7:30a, i discovered a problem.
This is what my face looked like:

NO, i have no clue why. except for, perhaps, the awesome zit living on my brow line. but... really?? So, throughout the day, the eye went down due mostly to the ice from brad, ibuprofen from neal, and laughter from chelsea. everyone played their role. UT dominated the University of Alabama at Birmingham. (go blazers...?) It was arguably 412 degrees in the sun on Saturday. I could only pity the poor frosh who undoubtedly got stuck wearing the felt dragon mascot uniform.

So, i wake up on Sunday to go running with Amy Marie and had swelling in both eyes. nothing terrible... just looked puffy. i do have to say, incidentally, that i had previously been anti-botox, but suddenly i lost a couple years when the "concentration lines" disappeared on my brow! not bad. i digress...

So, by the end of the day on Sunday, I had mostly deflated. only BIG bummer is the now present fever blister on my lip! oy vey! AND swollen glands under my chin. (i can just hear my old roomie julie giggling... i am THE MOST body aware person you'll meet. i mean... i notice blood vessels in my hands, a new freckle, and definitely any new pains. it is borderline silly.)

Whatever my body is trying to fight off is taking it out of me! As Jim Halpert, my ficticious dream husband, said best, "Lord, beer me strength."

Go to the Mattresses!

My friend Jenn sent me this event notice on Facebook today:


September 13th at 6pm there will be a massive pillow fight at Centennial Park (off West End).

Remember: a pillow fight is a common game mostly played by young children (but can also occur with teens and adults) in which they engage in mock physical conflict, utilizing pillows as weapons.

Since pillows are soft, injuries rarely occur. In this game, there is no winner. The game ends when all the players are tired or the players just decide to surrender. This game takes more skill than one would think. Trying to attack their opponent while trying to defend themselves from the crashing blows of the opponents pillow. Overall the game is just senseless fun and is not played for a prize but for its entertainment value.

Two suggestions: feather pillows & tribal face paint.
Teams are okay, or fend for yourself.

Either way, come to CENTENNIAL PARK!
Let's get wild and crazy!!

I LOVE NASHVILLE!!!!!

The Trumpet Child

Seriously...

if you haven't yet consumed all that is Over the Rhine's newest album, "The Trumpet Child"...

do. it.

now.

not tomorrow.

today.

you're welcome. ;)

Blue and Red States... the real divisions

a guy from work sent this around. click on it to enlarge- so funny. the word "pop" still makes me giggle when someone obviously means a "coke". he he!

sidenote: you would have cracked up had you heard my dad trying to order (in essence) a caffeine free, diet coke at every meal a couple weeks ago. in the name of avoiding branding, he'd say, "do you have a caffeine free diet cola?" EVERY time they'd say... "well... we have sprite". haha. well... it was funny to me, at least. not so much him...

Emma

Y'all... this job is already SO AMAZING!

There will be lots and lots of time to tell you details later once i am more settled, but wow. I have been so very welcomed and helped- it really is unique from any other work experience i have ever had.

Sure, this is the week where i feel useless; having to learn the ropes as opposed to actually contributing anything. Next week will start to usher in my participation and, hopefully, skillful assistance.

I didn't get the chance to go buy a new "first day of work outfit" like I'd hoped, but i'm sure i'll find some time for it this weekend. :) what with all the bday money and brand new gainful employment and all. what's that you say? i need to get out of debt first? oh yeah. well... TARGET it is with my new gift certif!

Check out Emma if you haven't already- they're (wait.. is it we're now?!) pretty doggone amazing. www.myemma.com

peace out. time for bed! Three blogs in a row! that's got to be some sort of a record!

BIRTHDAY Surprises and fun!

You just need to know that I have the best friends EVUH!

Let me walk you through my birthday weekend (the actual day being Sunday the 7th!)

Saturday morning i went to a baby shower for my dear friend Laurie who is expecting her first GIRL! She has a precious boy Nate already. Add in her hubby George and they are seriously the most precious family you've ever seen! Anyhow, got to go to her shower and it was lovely!

Next a few of us headed out to Columbia, TN where there was a surprise party for ADAM! he's the best and it was so fun to celebrate him at his parents place. We all had a blast. here's the group pic for the day!
Adrienne, Chelsea and Molly whisked me away after the party telling me only that i needed to be ready by 6pm. With extreme excitement, I readied myself. At 6pm, Adrienne and Chelsea arrive looking cute as buttons. Moments later SARAH JUNE busts through the door and is met with my tears! i was so excited and surprised that i cried! :) They put me in the car and bring me to the lovely Signature Nail Salon for pedis!

Next we go over to one of my favorite restaurants Calypso Cafe! We grab the food to-go and head over to Centennial Park where my friends are ALL assembled and ready to dance the night away with me! :) it was the sweetest surprise! Every summer there a big band in the park each Saturday to play the best music. they even give dance lessons. this was the last week, so the lessons didn't happen, but it was amazingly fun. At one point, i was pretending to Polka with Doug and laughing so hard that i couldn't breathe... or move. It was SUCH a fun night. It finished with drinks at Rumba where i enjoyed my first vanilla mojito- incredible!

Here are some pics from the evening:



As if that weren't enough, on the morning of my actual b-day, i was taken to brunch at my very favorite Nashville restaurant, Cafe Margot. Claire, Courtney, Leslie, Chancey and Anna joined me for some beyond tasty food and extra special birthday love. Look how fun:





I am one extremely thankful girl! Thanks, everyone, for the Birthday Love! Turning 29 was never SO MUCH FUN! :)

We are Family

Oh man... I had such a fun time seeing Kristin, Chad and Daddy! Fun times were had by all. There were movies ("The Dark Knight"... ask dad about the part i nearly jumped in his lap), good times (such as seeing old friends such as "The Don" and witnessing the USC Gamecock season opener), and great food (multiple Mexican meals.)

Here's a picture of all of us at dinner one night!
(amber, me, erica!)


(dad, kristin, chad!)

It was lovely to bring it down South to see my favorites. the only thing missing was MOM! alas... i shall see her in October. She was too busy dancing and living it up at her high school reunion!
Obviously I come by it honestly!

HOT OFF THE PRESS...

friends. bloggers. fellow sojourners,

I GOT IT!!!!!!

I was offered the job at my dream work place! Now that its offish (well... technically next Monday), i can tell you that yours truly will now be a "Design Coordinator" at Emma! For this and a BUNCH of other treats lately, i am most grateful! i mean... in the way that does not do that word justice.

Thank you, Heavenly Provider- i know this is your doing alone!

now, if i can just figure out what exceedingly cool outfit to wear for my first day... (thank goodness Kristin let me borrow a bunch o' great pieces. i LOVE twins!)

More on my weekend with Kristin, Chad and Daddy tomorrow. I'm busy basking!