love.

I love the art of story telling.

There are precious few things I love MORE, in this life, than a good story.

I love to hear them, write them, tell them, watch them and read them.

I am addicted to "This American Life" and "The Moth" podcasts, watching films, tv, and books because I so deeply love being told a great story.

This blog is just that, really. It may be unpredictable and light, but it is a story. Just for you. :)

Now... tell me one! Have one to share??

xo
k

Adventure.

I crave it.

My next one is the "Jack and Back" road race to raise money for the National MS Society. First weekend in October... here I come!

I am so excited to have a plan and a goal for the fall!!

You in?

THIS is how everyone should feel today!

Thanks, Delaney. :)

Eureka!

FOUND it!

World, here's my new rental house:

It is sort of like the house in UP. Tiny and perfect. Wedged between two large and lovely homes.

I am SO pumped about this place. There is a plethora of shelving (and you KNOW that is my love language) and even a pull-out table in the kitchen.

I am so excited! Here: enjoy the video tour by yours truly. You'll have to pardon my nerdy sound effects- they just come out. I can't control them.

xo
k

Double Shot

of wedding BLISS, basically.

I am headed out of town momentarily. Headed to Huntsville to see Kayla Kimmons get hitched, y'all! Not just that. I will be snuggled up with Emily, Justin, Traci, Bill, Holly, Ken and Jeanette in NO time and I just can't wait!! You will see pictures, no doubt.

Also, don't hate. You will likely see the same dress I've been wearing to every wedding. Dave Ramsey would be proud.

THEN. On Saturday evening, I will see Delaney get hitched. We will dance the night away and I will be making mini strawberry shortcakes for the blessed event. It will be a good time, no doubt.

As I glace over this week of huge news (multiple baby and wedding announcements, not to mention celebrations and personal revelations) over my shoulder, I realize I am a blessed girl. Surrounded by community that is just busting at the seams.

Time for me to get ready to go, so I'll leave you with my favorite thing Google has done in a long time: PAC MAN! Go to google.com and you'll get to play (old skewl) PacMan! I don't even want to tell you how many games I just played.

xo,
kk

Life after Laudy

Last night, I had a conversation with Sarah June. It was preceded by a talk with Chelsea, Anna (and Jordy).

And, listen, those McCoy girls get it.

If you have been to visit me in Nashville, you know I live in a great house. Not great in any traditional sense (unless you like mold, lack of insulation, 12 year old carpet and bugs), but great because of the fun that has been had in this house.

Its LAUDERDALE rd., for pete's sake. That means joy, fun, parties, community, peace and just plain love. I have come back to life in this house. Nashville came this close to losing me in the spring of '05. Kristin was leaving for Chicago, I had a job at Vanderbilt that I hated, and I couldn't seem to buy a social life. Enter Leslie (Logan) Hill and her introduction of me to the ladies of Laudy. I was instantly welcomed in and, all of a sudden, had a place I belonged in this fair city.

There have been countless nights of laughter. Days spent hiding inside while we all piled on the blow up mattress to watch "Little Women" or "Anne of Green Gables" (great...I just lost the male readership), and mountains of delicious food prepared in our kitchen. Parties that were so epic they shook the foundation (but, seriously) and more fond memories than we can fit in our spacious attic.

That leads me to my big announcement. I am going to live on my own now.

Here's the thing. I have had approximately 10 roommates/rotations since moving to Nashville (more, if you count my sister, etc) and I have ended STRONG with Chelsea, Anna and Jordan. In fact, we have been quite a force to be reckoned with. Our four personalities and styles make for one helluva combo and we've enjoyed it so much. JACK (as we have been named) has really been a Dream Team and i will miss the dynamic so very much. I simply have to go out on this high note.

Why the move, then?

I'm old, OK? I'm old and I feel the introverted side of my personality longing for a bit of a better job of boundaries. I get just as much energy from being with people as I do from being alone. I DEF cover the time with people... just not as good at the time alone. Then I hit a wall. And hide. So, I have decided I will live alone and start to defend some alone time for myself. Only took me 30 years!

Yesterday (when I got to meet baby Wynn, Whitney and I talked about this epic decision. She and I agreed that two bedrooms would be the only way to go. Her suggestion? A blog room. CAN YOU IMAGINE? It must be. A guest room made for blogging. I think I love it.

So, no, I don't have any details ironed out and I don't know how the transition will be from living with my dears to living with no one, but we. shall. see.

Is there life after Laudy? SJ says yes. and I believe her.

dum duh da dum...

These two got engaged on Saturday and I am SO HAPPY for them!!!

Naters proposed on the side of a cliff. What a baller. They're so cute and tying the knot in October. Can't wait!

I'm kind of in a funk.

I'm emerge soon. I feel sure of it.

I think.

Friday Fun

Today is a full day! There is almost not enough time to digest food, so I'll leave you with this too-good-to-be-true child prodigy. I shamelessly stole this from Genna. Its that good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxDlC7YV5is&feature=player_embedded

Ps. I don't even like Lady Gaga, but this kid... I seriously dig! Justin Bieber better look out.

another dave-ism:

Just overheard from the Dave Ramsey's radio show:


"If you have done something stupid with money, you know what that makes you??  Over 12."

I love this dude.

Date Night, date night

So, last night, I went to see "Date Night" with Allison and Chris. Al and I informed Chris that it was a date. He quickly lept into the role of ladies man with little effort. Lets face it, he lives there.

It was a surprisingly enjoyable movie. Sure, it had the normal car chase, mistaken- for- thieves- while- stealing- someone's- reservation- at- a -snooty -uptown- restaurant stuff. The take away was the importance they placed on marriage. A very welcome change of pace in Hollywood.

So, Date Night date night was so fun and I had the two hottest dates in Nashville.

inspiration!

I have spent my morning dividing my brain evenly between work and the Dave Ramsey podcast.

It is so freaking inspirational!

This man gets it and freedom is oozing out of this program! Its just so logical and empowering.

Makes me want to cry every time someone screams, "I'M DEBT FREE!!!"

so cool!!

Here: have a listen.

::basking::

It is the kind of GORGEOUS outside that makes me have to dash to my computer so we can share it.

Its lovely. Birds are chirping, kids are playing, the sun is warm and the air is cool.

If I could freeze time and keep the sun this exact shade of light, I would. I would just add in my family as I wish I were in Salisbury (how often do I say that?!) today to celebrate my presh mama. Alas, it is too far away for a quick trip.

Thank you, beautiful Sunday, for the luxury of sitting on my porch in silence for a bit.

conGRADulations!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!

Tomorrow, on a lovely day in May, THIS GIRL will get her Masters!

She is here: (along with Robbie, naturally)

and he is here:

and he is here: (along with ellen, of course)

and tonight, we will party and celebrate our Chelsea!

I am so proud of my roomie!

summer on a stick

anna and I celebrated Cinco de Mayo by enjoying these lovely Edy's Creamy Coconut bars...

AND THEY WERE HEAVENLY.

AY AY AY AY AY!

Flood Footage

Here's a rather haunting peek at what our fabulous city is dealing with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwCGz1vSh_M

Silver lining

Friends, in the midst of disaster in Middle Tennessee, there are a few highlights. Genuine "I'll get in the water up to my hips to save your belongings even if I've never met you" community is breaking out all over the place. It warms my heart.

We are a resilient town. We love well, it seems.

The photos are horrifying; the damage and disaster so widespread.

BUT we will bounce back. We will move on. We will help until no more help is needed.

Last night, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting on a cozy (dry) porch with some of my best friends in Nashville. We all sat around talking and eating some of the BEST food ever. It was one of those moments. You know... where you look around and don't want to be ANYwhere else.

Today, I got an email from my friend Whitney to announce the online launch of her UH-mazing online magazine called "SeaShine Magazine". I even got to throw in my two cents about organizing. I'm a contributor, y'all! :)

So, there is a bit of silver shining through in this Flood 2010 experience. :)

The (New) Situation 2010

If you don't live in Nashville, you may be surprised to learn that we've been under water for the last two days. Today, things are airing out and the water is going to start to recede by the end of the day today. Our beloved Cumberland river is swollen beyond its limits and hitting a historic high of 51.5 feet. Y'all... its usually 18 feet. The reason folks are calling this the "New Situation 2010" is because the first "Situation 2010" was the incredible snow/blizzard we had at the beginning of the year.

Basically, we got WAY too much rain in way too quick a time span. It has been the things of nightmares.

Yet, still, I do not feel it. Our home is completely dry (we only got an inch or so in the laundry room). People less than a mile away were being rescued from their cars, for pete's sake. There are still approximately 1,500 people without power and this all has me conjuring memories of Hurricane Hugo.

People died in our town and lost their homes and, yet, today the sun is shining and people are going about their regular lives. It is just strange. I want to be involved and will be as soon as it is safe to travel across the river again. Til then, I will just pray for my nears and dears as the water continues to rise until tonight.

In somewhat related news, I'm doing my part to conserve the water supply by not bathing and not doing my laundry. So, maybe don't hug me.

xo

TORNADO WEATHER AGAIN.

heading to the pantry with my helmet.