Well, we made it through Day 1 since the Great FireWall of Franklin has been erected. I say "made it through" because I was about to go nuts by the time I left for the evening. It was not a pleasant day at work for your Divadomain CEO, but you know what? Tomorrow is Tuesday and that means that 1) it's not Monday any more (woo hoo!) and 2) it's one day closer to the weekend.
Now. We all know how important music is to me. It's what I live and breathe for the most part. When asked that dreadful hypothetic question, would you rather be blind or deaf, I always choose the first because I cannot imagine a life without sound. In the days of old, I could never study while listening to music because it distracted me. I would always end up listening to the music instead of reading my textbook or studying my notes. However, in more recent times, I have become a much better multi-tasker. I am able to have several things going at work at once and actually make sense of it all. Friends call me on my cell, and I'm working away as I'm talking so that no one can hold it against me. (AND I can walk and chew gum- who's impressed?)
So. One of the joys of my work day is getting to listen to music all day long. Not that I have relegated the precious tones to background music and nothing more, but I guess I am using different parts of my brain to work than I am to listen, so miraculously I am able to do both.
Seriously though- I discovered Yahoo's Launchcast radio a few months ago and it brought happiness to the Bone & Joint Clinc where there was none, but sadly, it has gone away. Yes, my friend the firewall strikes again. So Dena and I are relegated to listening to cds and the crappy little radio that we have in our office that likes to fade in and out from time to time. But even this would not be so bad if I didn't have a Nazi working directly across the hall from me.
At first when Dena and I moved into our new office a few months ago, we got along with Becky. And Becky never said anything about our music being too loud. Then one day she stuck her head out the door and asked us to turn it down... then another day... and another. Now as of late we have been receiving these stiffly polite emails addressed to both myself and Dena asking us to "please turn down the music." (FYI: My nickname for Becky is the Warden because she yelled at Rhonda and I one day back in 2003 when we were both working at the B&J for being too loud. Ever since then, when she's in her manic moods, she trandforms into the Warden.) Today was the last straw though. Today, right at the end of the day, I received an email just to me that said
"CAN YOU PLEASE TUNR THE MUSIC DOWN IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY"
I was appalled and frankly very angry. For one, all caps is the email equivalent to yelling! There was no such need for this. And plus, it was the end of the day, would it kill her to close her office door, since she's the one that is bothered by our radio, which I might add was totally at a reasonable volume?
I am convinced the Warden is trying to zap any joy from my day. But she will not win this battle. They may take my Launchcast radio, and they may take my ability to blog (may it live on through the work day without me), but they will NOT take my music. Oh, it's ON now.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Bring it on...
No, I am not about to give a review of the cheerleading movie. I have officially decided to run the Country Music 1/2 Marathon on April 30, 2005. So mark your calendars! I thought it might be neat to keep a journal on the blog about my progress, etc. It may be boring as Hades for you, but it will keep me accountable and help me get through this grueling process by myself. I've run a 1/2 marathon before (The Half in Dallas, TX on 11/1/03), but I trained and ran it with several friends. But for this one, it's just the road, the rubber, and me. On one hand, that really scares me. But on the other hand, I view it as a new challenge. Training officially starts tomorrow morning with 3 miles. I used to laugh at 3 miles, but I'm not in as good of running shape as I used to be. I will let you know how it goes.
Just to give you some background, three years ago I could barely run 1.5-2 miles. I would get so frustrated and quit. One day I just decided that I was going to make myself learn to run...and learn to like it (to a certain extent. I'm not one of those crazy people that loves to run. I love the sense of accomplishment after I run...and of running farther and farther each week). Slowly but surely I worked my way up to 2.4 miles (the Bear Trail). I signed up for my first race - the Firecracker 5K (3.2 miles) and ran it on July 4, 2002. I was hooked. Pretty soon I had worked my way up to 5 miles, so I ran the Boulevard Bolt on Thanksgiving day 2002. All of my friends in college were running 1/2 and full marathons, so I was around it a lot. I ran 6 miles...and then 7. That's when I decided to go for the 1/2. So on 11/1/03, I completed my first 1/2 marathon. It was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. It took me 2 hours and 20 minutes (not great, but not too shabby). I tell all of this just to prove that anyone can run. Trust me, if I can run, you can run! It's amazing what you can do when you prepare and train yourself for something (not just running).
Ok, enough of the cheesy stuff. Stay tuned for more of my training journey...
Just to give you some background, three years ago I could barely run 1.5-2 miles. I would get so frustrated and quit. One day I just decided that I was going to make myself learn to run...and learn to like it (to a certain extent. I'm not one of those crazy people that loves to run. I love the sense of accomplishment after I run...and of running farther and farther each week). Slowly but surely I worked my way up to 2.4 miles (the Bear Trail). I signed up for my first race - the Firecracker 5K (3.2 miles) and ran it on July 4, 2002. I was hooked. Pretty soon I had worked my way up to 5 miles, so I ran the Boulevard Bolt on Thanksgiving day 2002. All of my friends in college were running 1/2 and full marathons, so I was around it a lot. I ran 6 miles...and then 7. That's when I decided to go for the 1/2. So on 11/1/03, I completed my first 1/2 marathon. It was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. It took me 2 hours and 20 minutes (not great, but not too shabby). I tell all of this just to prove that anyone can run. Trust me, if I can run, you can run! It's amazing what you can do when you prepare and train yourself for something (not just running).
Ok, enough of the cheesy stuff. Stay tuned for more of my training journey...
Short-term memory loss
And now, for what I logged onto the Diva Domain to blog about in the first place (the Rhondavous distracted me).....
Tomorrow is February 1 which means my Yahoo! LAUNCHcast radio will be re-loaded with my unlimited (and by unlimited, they mean "800") songs! I swear to you that they jipped me in January. They cut me off after like 10 days. Benches. okbye!
Tomorrow is February 1 which means my Yahoo! LAUNCHcast radio will be re-loaded with my unlimited (and by unlimited, they mean "800") songs! I swear to you that they jipped me in January. They cut me off after like 10 days. Benches. okbye!
How about a Rhondavous?
Amanda forgot to mention our Opry pre-party. It's a VERY rare occasion that the Penthouse Pets are all home at the same time after work. It happened on Friday in the hour or so that we had before heading to the Opry. I decided to make some margaritas to go with dinner, which consisted of Baked Cheetos (they ARE good!) and french fries, a la Rhonda. Music makes any Penthouse gathering more fun, so one of my genius roommates decided to throw on some booty tunes, and we had ourselves a little spontaneous dinner and dancing in the kitchen with margaritas - much fun, much fun :)
(Getting ready to leave the house:)
Rhonda: Is it illegal for me to bring this [margarita] in the car?
Emily: Yes
Rhonda: Do you mind?
Emily: No
Have ya'll heard that new song, "Everybody at the Opry gettin' tipsy"??? You soon will....I wrote it Friday night! No, it really wasn't that bad but it doesn't take much for me to feel the effects. Combine that with the fact that alcohol makes me sleepy, and we were all having trouble keeping our eyes open during the show, minus the cutie-patooties that we went to see.
Sorry this was short and boring but it's back to work I go. Amanda Jane sends her love to everyone telepathically. telepathetically? yes? no? "I think I'm confused....wait....maybe not."
(Getting ready to leave the house:)
Rhonda: Is it illegal for me to bring this [margarita] in the car?
Emily: Yes
Rhonda: Do you mind?
Emily: No
Have ya'll heard that new song, "Everybody at the Opry gettin' tipsy"??? You soon will....I wrote it Friday night! No, it really wasn't that bad but it doesn't take much for me to feel the effects. Combine that with the fact that alcohol makes me sleepy, and we were all having trouble keeping our eyes open during the show, minus the cutie-patooties that we went to see.
Sorry this was short and boring but it's back to work I go. Amanda Jane sends her love to everyone telepathically. telepathetically? yes? no? "I think I'm confused....wait....maybe not."
Sunday, January 30, 2005
blogging from home
Yes my friends, the sad day has finally come where I am no longer able to write or check my blog from work. What do they expect me to do all day I ask you? Work?! Rubbish! However, I have been able to use this relaxing weekend with the out-of-town relatives to help me let this horrible news process, and I have calmed down considerably about the whole ordeal. You should have seen me Friday though- I was in an awful state of shock and frustration, let me tell you. Happy hour could not come soon enough! So I apologize in advance for the inconvenience this may cause some of you. I know many of you plan your days around checking my blog for its notoriously faithful updates, and I pledge to you that I will do my best to keep writing and posting from the Penthouse or Chateau Bradley, or heck, any other creative way I can to keep the Divadomain up to the same high quality standard that you have come to know and love. Trust me, no one is more upset with our new change in format than myself.
That said, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Once again, the weathermen were wrong, and all we got was a smattering of rain. There was no ice. There was no snow. Heather- I'm jealous that you and Cubby Hubby got to go sledding with Craig & Jenny. Just one snowfall is all I'm asking for- is that too much? Apparently so. Welcome to Tennessee, where it's 50 degrees one day, and 30 the next.
The Grand Ole Opry on Friday night was great. I felt like a tourist in my home town, but was glad that I finally experienced this long-standing tradition. All you UT grads, don't be jealous, but the highlight of my evening was seeing the Osborne Brothers perform Rocky Top live. Another plus was getting to unexpectedly see Josh Turner perform ("Denim on Denim never looked so good") and the three of us singing along with Restless Heart- a total throwback to middle school ("They sound like a country Journey"). It was however, most disapointing that Brad Paisley only did 2 songs. What the heck Brad- where's the love?
I shopped till I dropped this weekend, doing some major damage at my all-time favorite store, Target'. I treated myself to a pink t-shirt with the pink panther on it that says, "I (heart) pink," most appropriately. Laura got a red t-shirt with cookie monster on it that says "Me want cookies." This is fitting for her since Lulu's first word when she was a baby was "cookie." I also splurged and bought season 5 of Friends ("now that right there is the gift that keeps on giving"). Sunday after church we hit up Shopryland for a mega shopping trip- we're talking several hours here people- but it was fun because we got to try out that new Aquarium restaraunt. I will say this- you are definitely paying for the atmosphere if you go. The food is way expensive, but the fish are fun to look at. They even have one aquarium that has a "Nemo" a "Dori" and a "Gill," so that was fun since we just watched Finding Nemo last night, and my cousin Braedon knows all about the different kind of fish. When dad ordered this afternoon he asked our server for the "fried clownfish" and bless her heart, but she was a little on the slow side, and didn't get that it was a joke. (You know, Clownfish, Nemo? ha ha) I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt and thought that maybe we just caught her off guard, but sadly no, because later on in the meal when my aunt joked with her asking if she provided babysitting service while we ate, she was totally lost again. Oh well. We tried.
Not much else to report here in my neck of the Brentwoods. The Cats barely squeaked by with a win yesterday, but a win's a win, and they're still the only undefeated team in the SEC, so I'll take that. Have a most pleasant evening, and thanks for stopping by.
That said, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Once again, the weathermen were wrong, and all we got was a smattering of rain. There was no ice. There was no snow. Heather- I'm jealous that you and Cubby Hubby got to go sledding with Craig & Jenny. Just one snowfall is all I'm asking for- is that too much? Apparently so. Welcome to Tennessee, where it's 50 degrees one day, and 30 the next.
The Grand Ole Opry on Friday night was great. I felt like a tourist in my home town, but was glad that I finally experienced this long-standing tradition. All you UT grads, don't be jealous, but the highlight of my evening was seeing the Osborne Brothers perform Rocky Top live. Another plus was getting to unexpectedly see Josh Turner perform ("Denim on Denim never looked so good") and the three of us singing along with Restless Heart- a total throwback to middle school ("They sound like a country Journey"). It was however, most disapointing that Brad Paisley only did 2 songs. What the heck Brad- where's the love?
I shopped till I dropped this weekend, doing some major damage at my all-time favorite store, Target'. I treated myself to a pink t-shirt with the pink panther on it that says, "I (heart) pink," most appropriately. Laura got a red t-shirt with cookie monster on it that says "Me want cookies." This is fitting for her since Lulu's first word when she was a baby was "cookie." I also splurged and bought season 5 of Friends ("now that right there is the gift that keeps on giving"). Sunday after church we hit up Shopryland for a mega shopping trip- we're talking several hours here people- but it was fun because we got to try out that new Aquarium restaraunt. I will say this- you are definitely paying for the atmosphere if you go. The food is way expensive, but the fish are fun to look at. They even have one aquarium that has a "Nemo" a "Dori" and a "Gill," so that was fun since we just watched Finding Nemo last night, and my cousin Braedon knows all about the different kind of fish. When dad ordered this afternoon he asked our server for the "fried clownfish" and bless her heart, but she was a little on the slow side, and didn't get that it was a joke. (You know, Clownfish, Nemo? ha ha) I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt and thought that maybe we just caught her off guard, but sadly no, because later on in the meal when my aunt joked with her asking if she provided babysitting service while we ate, she was totally lost again. Oh well. We tried.
Not much else to report here in my neck of the Brentwoods. The Cats barely squeaked by with a win yesterday, but a win's a win, and they're still the only undefeated team in the SEC, so I'll take that. Have a most pleasant evening, and thanks for stopping by.
Friday, January 28, 2005
GOO night
Ok kids, the blog is still up and running for now... we had a bit of a scare here with the firewall that is taking over life as I know it here at work. But for now, TGIF! It's finally almost the start of what should prove to be a relaxing weekend for me. I plan on kicking this Black Lung thing once and for all, after having been gracious enough to pass it along to James of course. Tonight the Penthouse Pets will check the "GOO" off their Things to do in Nashville list (only Rhonda may cross off this item, and she must do so with the aforementioned red marker, as she is the official secretary for the apartment). After that, I have family coming in town this weekend- my uncle Michael, who's my Mom's baby brother (and famously #2 in the list of favorites behind Mom!), Aunt Missy (a fellow DZ, how fun is that?), and my cousins Braedon (age 5), and Garrick (age 1). As a dutiful cousin and niece I have marked off the rest of my weekend to spend with them, so I am looking forward to that. I think I see some shopping my forecast as well: Look out Cool Springs Galleria, here I come! (Hey, I can't help it if I am forced to support our economy with my out-of-town relatives!)
Happy Friday- only 7 more days till next weekend- I think I see a roadtrip in the near future! :o)
aaaaaannnnd, I'm spent.
Happy Friday- only 7 more days till next weekend- I think I see a roadtrip in the near future! :o)
aaaaaannnnd, I'm spent.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
the GOO
Where can you find the Penthouse Pets tomorrow night? Rockin' out at the Grand Ole Opry with Brad "ain't-nothin-like kids singing" Paisley, Mark "and the crowd goes wild" Wills, and Craig "baby cut that coupon out" Morgan!!! So yeah those are my cheesy nicknames for them that no one else will really get. My fabulous friend Beth was able to get her hands on some tickets for me. (Pets, we are indebted to 95.5 The Wolf now!) I am praying that Amanda's rehearsal will not force her to miss the show. I am SUPER excited and just hope that our seats are okay. It's at the Ryman which is very very cool. I have never been to a concert there before. There are other people playing at the Opry too but I do not care as much about them, no offense. WE HEART B-RAD!
OK kids I have a WWYD? situation. This might just be for the gals but boys can advise. Nothing life changing but slightly exciting and at least a topic of conversation. I met a guy (NOT while at a bar with friends haha!) who seemed very nice and cute, and he asked for my # and I gave it to him. This was over 3 weeks ago so I was all, "OK 'He's just not that into me' and that's fine." Well last night he did call me and left a message apologizing for it being so long, asking if I'd like to get together with him and his friends Friday night, and asked me to call him back. According to our now-famous authors, if he was just that into me he would have called me immediately. I know what I'm going to do (unless I change my mind :) ) but what does the general public of our readers think I should do? Guys....why did this boy wait so long to call? Could he really be that interested? Throw me your thoughts. I've got my catcher's mitt ready.
OK kids I have a WWYD? situation. This might just be for the gals but boys can advise. Nothing life changing but slightly exciting and at least a topic of conversation. I met a guy (NOT while at a bar with friends haha!) who seemed very nice and cute, and he asked for my # and I gave it to him. This was over 3 weeks ago so I was all, "OK 'He's just not that into me' and that's fine." Well last night he did call me and left a message apologizing for it being so long, asking if I'd like to get together with him and his friends Friday night, and asked me to call him back. According to our now-famous authors, if he was just that into me he would have called me immediately. I know what I'm going to do (unless I change my mind :) ) but what does the general public of our readers think I should do? Guys....why did this boy wait so long to call? Could he really be that interested? Throw me your thoughts. I've got my catcher's mitt ready.
Twentysomething vs. Twentysomeone
What’s a Diva to do? The emails just keep coming this morning so I can’t seem to get any work done. I think my ideal job would be to get paid to blog and email and surf the net. Is anyone hiring for that position? (Buehler?) But between doing my actual job and responding to the insane amount of SOGWEAW emails and other non-work related stuff, I have to be responsible… and answer all of my emails first. I have my priorities straight! What if you’re in need of a witty comeback or someone to plan lunch for the girls? Who will do this if I’m unavailable? :o)
Seriously- I apologize for the shallowness of this site as of late, and so I’m going to try and redeem myself by offering a helpful thought for the day. In Bible study last night we listened to the 3rd cd in our Louie Giglio series that was entitled Twentysomething or Twentysomeone. This lesson was packed full with insightful things about finding God’s will and learning how to live in it, most of which I can’t recreate without the aid of my notes, but here’s what I can recall.
*Finding God’s will is about who we are and not what we do.
*Do we really want an "Information Booth God" who we walk up to, ask Him a question and then go on our merry way, or do we want a God who instead of telling us where something is on a map, will just say, "come with me and I’ll show you myself."
*One way to gauge our spiritual maturity is by looking at the time it takes between the moment we sin, and the moment we ask for forgiveness.
*And finally, look at Psalm 37 sometime soon- it tells us to "Dwell in the land," meaning that whatever our circumstances, live life to the fullest, and continue to give God glory, even though the situation you’re in may not be ideal. You can’t just wait for the ideal moments to worship God- you miss out on witnessing to others, you miss out on blessings, and you’re not being faithful and obedient.
There was so much more, but ultimately it was just a very stimulating and challenging evening. Sometimes I am overcome by the evidence of God working in the lives of the those around me, and I can only hope that those people are seeing that in their own lives too. I used to have this journal that I wrote in daily where I would list 5 blessings of that day; 5 simple things that occurred on that day specifically to make me realize how God is working in the big things and the small. So today I’d like to rekindle that and list a few of what I fondly call "small blessings." Feel free to add your own to the list, or just reflect personally on the things you have to be thankful for on this day.
1. sunshine
2. unexpected emails
3. lunch with friends
4. rehearsal tonight
5. conversations with coworkers
Seriously- I apologize for the shallowness of this site as of late, and so I’m going to try and redeem myself by offering a helpful thought for the day. In Bible study last night we listened to the 3rd cd in our Louie Giglio series that was entitled Twentysomething or Twentysomeone. This lesson was packed full with insightful things about finding God’s will and learning how to live in it, most of which I can’t recreate without the aid of my notes, but here’s what I can recall.
*Finding God’s will is about who we are and not what we do.
*Do we really want an "Information Booth God" who we walk up to, ask Him a question and then go on our merry way, or do we want a God who instead of telling us where something is on a map, will just say, "come with me and I’ll show you myself."
*One way to gauge our spiritual maturity is by looking at the time it takes between the moment we sin, and the moment we ask for forgiveness.
*And finally, look at Psalm 37 sometime soon- it tells us to "Dwell in the land," meaning that whatever our circumstances, live life to the fullest, and continue to give God glory, even though the situation you’re in may not be ideal. You can’t just wait for the ideal moments to worship God- you miss out on witnessing to others, you miss out on blessings, and you’re not being faithful and obedient.
There was so much more, but ultimately it was just a very stimulating and challenging evening. Sometimes I am overcome by the evidence of God working in the lives of the those around me, and I can only hope that those people are seeing that in their own lives too. I used to have this journal that I wrote in daily where I would list 5 blessings of that day; 5 simple things that occurred on that day specifically to make me realize how God is working in the big things and the small. So today I’d like to rekindle that and list a few of what I fondly call "small blessings." Feel free to add your own to the list, or just reflect personally on the things you have to be thankful for on this day.
1. sunshine
2. unexpected emails
3. lunch with friends
4. rehearsal tonight
5. conversations with coworkers
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Calling all Kenny-heads
I’m sitting here listening to the new Kenny Chesney cd that came out yesterday (thank you Amanda Holt) and imagining I’m anywhere but here. I can see why Kenny calls this his "beach album." But as if all the other ones weren’t fun-in-the-sun-and-sand albums either… it’s like EMILY said to Rhonda- "What’s he gonna do to make this one a beach album- fill it with sand?" (Em, just trying to give you the credit that you so very much deserve!) (PS, James, I fixed all the mis-quotes from Dion too- hope you’re happy. Wouldn’t want anyone thinking he was "the guy." Ha ha)
But back to Kenny. What is up with this whole Island thing anyways? I heard him on a radio interview yesterday where he’s going on and on about this being his most personal album yet, and blah, blah, blah, and how sometimes as an artist you get put in a box and people only think of you singing one type of song and how he’s trying to break that mold, blah, blah, blah. Well excuse me Pot, this is Kettle. You’re BLACK!! Aren’t all of Kenny’s albums up to date about being young and enjoying life, and wishing you could go back? So explain to me then how an album full of beach music is any different from that. Kenny, that is so deep. Let’s just forget about work, fly to the Caribbean and lie on the beach all day, drinking Malibu and Diet. Riiiiiight. Since all of us can afford to do that. And when you strut around town in backwards baseball caps, basketball jerseys, and red convertibles, Uncle Kenny, but you say you’re trying to break the mold that you’ve been placed in, how exactly does that work??
Qualm number 2 with the KC and the Moonshine band album is this: this is absolutely not country music. It’s Buffet with Kenny singing vocals. Now explain to me why Jimmy Buffet comes to Nashville years ago and can’t make it as a writer and an artist, so he leaves, becomes enormously popular gaining a Parrothead following, only to come back and try to prove himself again in country music. I don’t care if you sing with Kenny Chesney or Hank Williams Jr. You’re not country. And so now following their famous collaboration, Mr. Chesney feels the need to stray from his enormously popular venture in country music to pursue Island music yet attempt to include it under the guise of country music.
I will say this though, this is some Beachin’ music. It’s definitely making me long for a Spring Break 05 Beach Trip. Who’s goin’ with me?
But back to Kenny. What is up with this whole Island thing anyways? I heard him on a radio interview yesterday where he’s going on and on about this being his most personal album yet, and blah, blah, blah, and how sometimes as an artist you get put in a box and people only think of you singing one type of song and how he’s trying to break that mold, blah, blah, blah. Well excuse me Pot, this is Kettle. You’re BLACK!! Aren’t all of Kenny’s albums up to date about being young and enjoying life, and wishing you could go back? So explain to me then how an album full of beach music is any different from that. Kenny, that is so deep. Let’s just forget about work, fly to the Caribbean and lie on the beach all day, drinking Malibu and Diet. Riiiiiight. Since all of us can afford to do that. And when you strut around town in backwards baseball caps, basketball jerseys, and red convertibles, Uncle Kenny, but you say you’re trying to break the mold that you’ve been placed in, how exactly does that work??
Qualm number 2 with the KC and the Moonshine band album is this: this is absolutely not country music. It’s Buffet with Kenny singing vocals. Now explain to me why Jimmy Buffet comes to Nashville years ago and can’t make it as a writer and an artist, so he leaves, becomes enormously popular gaining a Parrothead following, only to come back and try to prove himself again in country music. I don’t care if you sing with Kenny Chesney or Hank Williams Jr. You’re not country. And so now following their famous collaboration, Mr. Chesney feels the need to stray from his enormously popular venture in country music to pursue Island music yet attempt to include it under the guise of country music.
I will say this though, this is some Beachin’ music. It’s definitely making me long for a Spring Break 05 Beach Trip. Who’s goin’ with me?
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
the Black Lung
So I’m still trying to get over this black lung disease. It’s really not the black lung, but we don’t know what else to call it. I think Em had it first, but then whenever it got passed on to Rhonda she had these pathetic little double-coughs that were reminiscent of the Derek Zoolander "cough, cough, I think I have the black lung, pop." So it then became known as the Black Lung in our apartment. Well it’s obnoxious is what it is. No temperature (my Mom checked. She also made me chicken noodle soup. Thanks for that.), no sinus congestion, just a tickling cough and I have developed some minor congestion in my chest, but I feel completely fine otherwise. I know this is way more than any of you care to know, but whatever. I need to vent.
We’re going on week 2 of the Black Lung and I am at my wits’ end. Last night I woke myself up multiple times coughing, so even though I went to bed super-early and slept in this morning I still feel like I got no sleep. I’ve been taking this leftover prescription expectorant/decongestant that I had and I made the mistake the first day I took it of taking an entire tablet. Big mistake. This stuff has some serious adverse reactions I found out quickly, a few of which are, but not limited to, being jittery, loopy, and pass-out exhausted.
Is it bad that I have all kinds of leftover prescription drugs? I never finish them. Never. And I know all the biologists out there would say that it’s my fault that the spread of disease is continuing to occur because the little bugger viruses are smart and develop immunity to the drugs. They continue morph into more powerful strands of the same virus all because we don’t finish our medicine.
Mom found a bottle of Bacon Bits in our pantry at home a few months ago that was 6 years old. Six Years! And what did they morph into? Nothing. Bacon Bits are indestructible. No way am I putting any of those into my stomach ever again. I’ll take my chances with the Black Lung virus.
We’re going on week 2 of the Black Lung and I am at my wits’ end. Last night I woke myself up multiple times coughing, so even though I went to bed super-early and slept in this morning I still feel like I got no sleep. I’ve been taking this leftover prescription expectorant/decongestant that I had and I made the mistake the first day I took it of taking an entire tablet. Big mistake. This stuff has some serious adverse reactions I found out quickly, a few of which are, but not limited to, being jittery, loopy, and pass-out exhausted.
Is it bad that I have all kinds of leftover prescription drugs? I never finish them. Never. And I know all the biologists out there would say that it’s my fault that the spread of disease is continuing to occur because the little bugger viruses are smart and develop immunity to the drugs. They continue morph into more powerful strands of the same virus all because we don’t finish our medicine.
Mom found a bottle of Bacon Bits in our pantry at home a few months ago that was 6 years old. Six Years! And what did they morph into? Nothing. Bacon Bits are indestructible. No way am I putting any of those into my stomach ever again. I’ll take my chances with the Black Lung virus.
The Weekend, part 2
Broadway, Breakfast and Beyond
So where were we? Dinner is over, and we decide to head downtown to Broadway. The plan was to try out Red Iguana since only Rhonda had been there yet, but since it was too early to go there we made a coupla stops first. We decided to take the boys to a country bar since we were in Nashville after all. Em’s friend Carla was supposed to be at the Stage with some people (the same Carla who gave us misleading directions. Curses you misleader!). Well we never did see Carla there, but the place was packed and the band was great. They made my night by playing Rocky Top. That song never gets old to me (hence the previous post on why I love being a Tennesseean- just chalk that onto the list). But I realized halfway through the evening, that being that I have the black lung and pulled a Diva move by not singing at my Pirates rehearsal Friday night to save my voice, I was being slightly hypocritical (and stupid) for singing Rocky Top and Dixieland Delight at the top of my lungs. Oopsy. We hung out at the Stage for a while and then moved next door to- where else- our favorite place, Tootsie’s. This makes 3 weekends in a row. I’m beginning to wonder if the bouncers think we are stalking Jared Ashley. But they’d be wrong. It’s really Ranger Bob that we love so much. I was worried that James and Dion wouldn’t be quite so fascinated with Tootsie’s as we are, but they said on several occasions that they were having a blast.
"I didn’t have this much fun in Nashville the last time I was here," Dion said.
"Were you with band people," I asked?
"Yeah."
I rest my case.
Finally we all decided, what the heck, let’s try Red Iguana and see if it’s any fun. We are always looking for a great place to dance. The place was, well, all red. (Whadayaknow?) It was enjoyable enough; I’d go back I think. By the time we left though, downtown Nashville was covered in a thin layer of snow. The guys were total gentlemen and let us wear their jackets, and we all huddled close together to keep warm while making the trek back to the car.
Due to the obscene amount of snow on the roads the next morning (read: barely any), James and Dion didn’t get on the road quite as early as they’d anticipated. And that would be the understatement of the weekend I think. James missed work ("Well, I wouldn’t exactly say I’ve been missing it Bob.") and Dion missed the family’s going away party for his uncle who is going to be gone for the next 5 years… to prison. Only in Kentucky, that’s all I can say folks. But on the bright side, we three got to go to Pancake Pantry for a late breakfast.
"I thought you said it’s not far," Dion said as we’re driving.
"It’s not," I said. "But that doesn’t mean it’s close either."
I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.
But the short drive to Hillsboro Village (or long, depending on who you ask) is well worth it. I cannot describe to you the amount of joy the Chocolate Sin pancakes bring to a person. It’s just something you’ll have to experience. So as we’re standing in line outside the place, I am doing my best to explain to my Lexington friends just what makes the Pancake Pantry worth standing out in the cold.
"It’s a Nashville tradition I exclaim!" my back to the restaurant. James then points out that it says exactly that under the sign: "Pancake Pantry, A Nashville Tradition."
"Well see, I couldn’t have planned that any better if I’d tried!"
Also while standing in line, James looked down and noticed on the sidewalk there was a kernel of corn (insert your pick of corny jokes here). (Hey, what else do you do while standing in line but make bad jokes?) (Ok then, what else would I do while standing in line besides make bad jokes?)
After the 2 hours it took James and Dion to decide what they wanted, and our bellies sufficiently filled, we headed back to the Penthouse to watch the Eagles-Falcons game. Well, Dion and Emily and myself watched the game- Rhonda and James took advantage of an early afternoon nap!
Finally around 6 o’clock that night, the boys reluctantly made their exit from the great state of Tennessee. Well, James was reluctant but Dion I think was just being a good sport by hanging out with us all day. But the gesture was certainly appreciated.
And my first question to James upon learning that they had made it back to Lexington that night: "so when are you coming back?" :o)
FYI, the Cats play the Vols tonight. Let it be known that though it has taken me several years to be able to say this and mean it, I am actually cheering against UT tonight. Ari, you'll make me an honorary Kentuckian yet.
So where were we? Dinner is over, and we decide to head downtown to Broadway. The plan was to try out Red Iguana since only Rhonda had been there yet, but since it was too early to go there we made a coupla stops first. We decided to take the boys to a country bar since we were in Nashville after all. Em’s friend Carla was supposed to be at the Stage with some people (the same Carla who gave us misleading directions. Curses you misleader!). Well we never did see Carla there, but the place was packed and the band was great. They made my night by playing Rocky Top. That song never gets old to me (hence the previous post on why I love being a Tennesseean- just chalk that onto the list). But I realized halfway through the evening, that being that I have the black lung and pulled a Diva move by not singing at my Pirates rehearsal Friday night to save my voice, I was being slightly hypocritical (and stupid) for singing Rocky Top and Dixieland Delight at the top of my lungs. Oopsy. We hung out at the Stage for a while and then moved next door to- where else- our favorite place, Tootsie’s. This makes 3 weekends in a row. I’m beginning to wonder if the bouncers think we are stalking Jared Ashley. But they’d be wrong. It’s really Ranger Bob that we love so much. I was worried that James and Dion wouldn’t be quite so fascinated with Tootsie’s as we are, but they said on several occasions that they were having a blast.
"I didn’t have this much fun in Nashville the last time I was here," Dion said.
"Were you with band people," I asked?
"Yeah."
I rest my case.
Finally we all decided, what the heck, let’s try Red Iguana and see if it’s any fun. We are always looking for a great place to dance. The place was, well, all red. (Whadayaknow?) It was enjoyable enough; I’d go back I think. By the time we left though, downtown Nashville was covered in a thin layer of snow. The guys were total gentlemen and let us wear their jackets, and we all huddled close together to keep warm while making the trek back to the car.
Due to the obscene amount of snow on the roads the next morning (read: barely any), James and Dion didn’t get on the road quite as early as they’d anticipated. And that would be the understatement of the weekend I think. James missed work ("Well, I wouldn’t exactly say I’ve been missing it Bob.") and Dion missed the family’s going away party for his uncle who is going to be gone for the next 5 years… to prison. Only in Kentucky, that’s all I can say folks. But on the bright side, we three got to go to Pancake Pantry for a late breakfast.
"I thought you said it’s not far," Dion said as we’re driving.
"It’s not," I said. "But that doesn’t mean it’s close either."
I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.
But the short drive to Hillsboro Village (or long, depending on who you ask) is well worth it. I cannot describe to you the amount of joy the Chocolate Sin pancakes bring to a person. It’s just something you’ll have to experience. So as we’re standing in line outside the place, I am doing my best to explain to my Lexington friends just what makes the Pancake Pantry worth standing out in the cold.
"It’s a Nashville tradition I exclaim!" my back to the restaurant. James then points out that it says exactly that under the sign: "Pancake Pantry, A Nashville Tradition."
"Well see, I couldn’t have planned that any better if I’d tried!"
Also while standing in line, James looked down and noticed on the sidewalk there was a kernel of corn (insert your pick of corny jokes here). (Hey, what else do you do while standing in line but make bad jokes?) (Ok then, what else would I do while standing in line besides make bad jokes?)
After the 2 hours it took James and Dion to decide what they wanted, and our bellies sufficiently filled, we headed back to the Penthouse to watch the Eagles-Falcons game. Well, Dion and Emily and myself watched the game- Rhonda and James took advantage of an early afternoon nap!
Finally around 6 o’clock that night, the boys reluctantly made their exit from the great state of Tennessee. Well, James was reluctant but Dion I think was just being a good sport by hanging out with us all day. But the gesture was certainly appreciated.
And my first question to James upon learning that they had made it back to Lexington that night: "so when are you coming back?" :o)
FYI, the Cats play the Vols tonight. Let it be known that though it has taken me several years to be able to say this and mean it, I am actually cheering against UT tonight. Ari, you'll make me an honorary Kentuckian yet.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Just call me Kevin Nealon
Except that this isn't really a Weekend Update. It's more of a Random Thoughts kind of entry. I will let Amanda post the Complete Weekend Update, as it was more exciting for her than it was for Emily and me. First of all I'm feeling mad at myself because I spent too much money this weekend. I will share with you all my new motivation for saving. I realized how much I love to see my bank account roll past the next dollar "milestone" (Example: checking your balance and seeing you now have $3,001.00) Your milestone may be the next thousand, or next $500, or just the next hundred. It's a great motivation because when you do pass the next milestone you HATE to see the account fall back into where it used to be. Then you've got to re-do the milestone again. Just don't celebrate crossing milestones by doing something that requires spending money! (Which basically means you can't do anything, but I digress.)
Amanda, Emily, and I are fun-loving gals who like to try new things in this fabulous city we live in. We are constantly saying "We should go there," or "We should try that." So, being the geniuses that we are (minus me), we created "The Lists" and proudly displayed them in the kitchen. Currently we have the "Things to Do" list and the "Places to Eat" list. We desperately need to create the "Movies to See" list but we've been too lazy. One of the rules about The Lists is that you have to use the red pen - oh and I have to write it because it's already in my handwriting. (I won the Penthouse Penmanship Award.) This weekend we were able to cross off Rosepepper Cantina, where we went to eat Saturday night. It was well worth it and I was a happy girl!!! If any of you Nashvillians reading along have suggestions for The List, please share :)
Two of the items I bought this weekend while spending too much money were a new pair of pants and a new pair of shoes. I am super excited about the shoes and had to wear them to church yesteday even though it was 28 and there was snow on the ground. They are sassy and pretty un-Rhondaish actually! Today I am wearing the pants to work (along with other items of clothing.) They are black with pink and white pinstripes and guess what - they have pink lining inside! Oh gosh I sound like Amanda!!!!!!! And yes I'm wearing a pink shirt to (hopefully) accentuate the pink pinstripes. You'd be proud, Roomie.
OK peace out. stay classy.
Amanda, Emily, and I are fun-loving gals who like to try new things in this fabulous city we live in. We are constantly saying "We should go there," or "We should try that." So, being the geniuses that we are (minus me), we created "The Lists" and proudly displayed them in the kitchen. Currently we have the "Things to Do" list and the "Places to Eat" list. We desperately need to create the "Movies to See" list but we've been too lazy. One of the rules about The Lists is that you have to use the red pen - oh and I have to write it because it's already in my handwriting. (I won the Penthouse Penmanship Award.) This weekend we were able to cross off Rosepepper Cantina, where we went to eat Saturday night. It was well worth it and I was a happy girl!!! If any of you Nashvillians reading along have suggestions for The List, please share :)
Two of the items I bought this weekend while spending too much money were a new pair of pants and a new pair of shoes. I am super excited about the shoes and had to wear them to church yesteday even though it was 28 and there was snow on the ground. They are sassy and pretty un-Rhondaish actually! Today I am wearing the pants to work (along with other items of clothing.) They are black with pink and white pinstripes and guess what - they have pink lining inside! Oh gosh I sound like Amanda!!!!!!! And yes I'm wearing a pink shirt to (hopefully) accentuate the pink pinstripes. You'd be proud, Roomie.
OK peace out. stay classy.
The Weekend, part 1
A trip to remember
No black lung disease is going to keep this DIVA down, no sir! The weekend was full of activities that have left your president of the DIVA Domain a little worn out this a.m. (and btw, I’m not only the president, I’m also a client.) But never fear, I have plenty of exciting stories and memories to share that will perk you up this Monday morning, or at least help you kill 2 or 3 minutes out of your day.
First of all, please welcome our newest Nashvillian, Miss Amanda Joan-Wade Holt. Amanda is a fellow DZ/UK grad and has made the big move to Nashvegas because she simply couldn’t stand to be away from me for any longer. She’s a sagitarius who likes tall, dark handsome men, and long walks on the beach. Emmy Sue and I headed downtown Friday night to the oh-so-trendy Virago to meet up with Amanda and her new roommate Susan (who also just happens to be a fellow Brentwood High graduate), followed by Rhonda and Laurie, who joined us after their previous engagement at the Bluebird. The six of us stood at a table in the center of the room with 3 other fellows who were also sharing the table, and we all were entertained by the awful 80s videos playing on the giant screen in the front of the restaurant. But how often is it that one sees Michael Jackson’s "Beat it" or the "Humpty Dance" video? Random for sure, but a conversation starter if there ever was one.
In case you’re keeping up with it (and all of you should be) the Cats defeated LSU on Saturday by 31 points, so I was a happy girl. I would have been happier had I had 2 certain young men in town in time to watch the game with me, but they were too busy doing laundry and playing poker till all hours of the night to get on the road in time. So sucks for them, they got to listen to the game on the radio. After much anticipation however, James and Dion finally made their grand arrival at the Penthouse, apparently driving through a freak snow storm in Kentucky and Tennessee to get here. And believe it or not, my directions were so good that they only got turned around once! (It’s sad but true, but people who have lived in Nashville for under a year know their way around better than I do. I am just terrible with directions. Remember this fact, because it plays an important role later in the story.) Hugs abounding and introductions made, we all watched the end of the Tennessee-Louisville game followed by Office Space (yeeeeaaaahhhh, that'd be Greeaaat). If you’ve never heard Rhonda do her Milton impersonation you’re missing out.
Next the great debate begins. Where to eat? We want to take James and Dion someplace fun, so Emily suggested that we go to Rosepepper Cantina because it’s on our list of places to eat (Rhonda, Emily, and myself have created two lists, FYI. One of "things to do" in Nashville", ie. Go to the Grand Ole Opry, and the other list consists of places we want to eat in Nashville).
Me: But Rosepepper’s all the way in East Nashville.
Emily: But it’s not that far from downtown.
Me: (reluctantly) ok.
And Emily was right, it wasn’t far from downtown, making it convenient to get to the clubs, but it was the getting there in the first place that proved to be so difficult. Emily and I had both been there before but I know at least I had gotten there a different way than the way Emily was trying to go. You can guess where this is going. We got lost in East Nashville. Not the worst part of town by any means, but not the best either. Blame the faulty directions from Em’s friend Karla, but we ended up having to pull into a gas station where Em and I proceeded to fire away on our cell phones and try to track down directions to this restaurant. What followed was nothing short of comedy.
Emily: Dad, can you look in the phonebook and tell me where Rosepepper Cantina is?
Me: (leaving a message on Heather’s phone) Heather, we’re lost in your old ‘hood. I need help. Call me if you get this soon.
Emily: (on her phone) so Woodland turns into Gallatin road?
Me: (dialing the parentals…) hey- I need you to get online and tell me where this restaurant is.
Several seconds pass…
Mom, on one phone: What’s the name of the place?
Dad, on another phone: What are you doing in East Nashville?
Mom: I’m not seeing it. How do you spell it?
Dad: Was this your idea to go down there?
Mom: Is that one word or two?
Dad: well don’t stop anywhere. You know that’s not the best part of town.
Me: Yes, thanks for that, tell me something I don’t know!
Dad: well if it were me, I’d be finding someplace else to eat.
Me: Grrrr!!!!
meanwhile… Emily calls her friend Houston (we have a problem) and gets more faulty directions (what is it with faulty directions? Twice in one night? Oh REALLY??)
To make a long story short (too late) we found the place, had a lovely dinner, and managed to get back across the river without any trouble.
No black lung disease is going to keep this DIVA down, no sir! The weekend was full of activities that have left your president of the DIVA Domain a little worn out this a.m. (and btw, I’m not only the president, I’m also a client.) But never fear, I have plenty of exciting stories and memories to share that will perk you up this Monday morning, or at least help you kill 2 or 3 minutes out of your day.
First of all, please welcome our newest Nashvillian, Miss Amanda Joan-Wade Holt. Amanda is a fellow DZ/UK grad and has made the big move to Nashvegas because she simply couldn’t stand to be away from me for any longer. She’s a sagitarius who likes tall, dark handsome men, and long walks on the beach. Emmy Sue and I headed downtown Friday night to the oh-so-trendy Virago to meet up with Amanda and her new roommate Susan (who also just happens to be a fellow Brentwood High graduate), followed by Rhonda and Laurie, who joined us after their previous engagement at the Bluebird. The six of us stood at a table in the center of the room with 3 other fellows who were also sharing the table, and we all were entertained by the awful 80s videos playing on the giant screen in the front of the restaurant. But how often is it that one sees Michael Jackson’s "Beat it" or the "Humpty Dance" video? Random for sure, but a conversation starter if there ever was one.
In case you’re keeping up with it (and all of you should be) the Cats defeated LSU on Saturday by 31 points, so I was a happy girl. I would have been happier had I had 2 certain young men in town in time to watch the game with me, but they were too busy doing laundry and playing poker till all hours of the night to get on the road in time. So sucks for them, they got to listen to the game on the radio. After much anticipation however, James and Dion finally made their grand arrival at the Penthouse, apparently driving through a freak snow storm in Kentucky and Tennessee to get here. And believe it or not, my directions were so good that they only got turned around once! (It’s sad but true, but people who have lived in Nashville for under a year know their way around better than I do. I am just terrible with directions. Remember this fact, because it plays an important role later in the story.) Hugs abounding and introductions made, we all watched the end of the Tennessee-Louisville game followed by Office Space (yeeeeaaaahhhh, that'd be Greeaaat). If you’ve never heard Rhonda do her Milton impersonation you’re missing out.
Next the great debate begins. Where to eat? We want to take James and Dion someplace fun, so Emily suggested that we go to Rosepepper Cantina because it’s on our list of places to eat (Rhonda, Emily, and myself have created two lists, FYI. One of "things to do" in Nashville", ie. Go to the Grand Ole Opry, and the other list consists of places we want to eat in Nashville).
Me: But Rosepepper’s all the way in East Nashville.
Emily: But it’s not that far from downtown.
Me: (reluctantly) ok.
And Emily was right, it wasn’t far from downtown, making it convenient to get to the clubs, but it was the getting there in the first place that proved to be so difficult. Emily and I had both been there before but I know at least I had gotten there a different way than the way Emily was trying to go. You can guess where this is going. We got lost in East Nashville. Not the worst part of town by any means, but not the best either. Blame the faulty directions from Em’s friend Karla, but we ended up having to pull into a gas station where Em and I proceeded to fire away on our cell phones and try to track down directions to this restaurant. What followed was nothing short of comedy.
Emily: Dad, can you look in the phonebook and tell me where Rosepepper Cantina is?
Me: (leaving a message on Heather’s phone) Heather, we’re lost in your old ‘hood. I need help. Call me if you get this soon.
Emily: (on her phone) so Woodland turns into Gallatin road?
Me: (dialing the parentals…) hey- I need you to get online and tell me where this restaurant is.
Several seconds pass…
Mom, on one phone: What’s the name of the place?
Dad, on another phone: What are you doing in East Nashville?
Mom: I’m not seeing it. How do you spell it?
Dad: Was this your idea to go down there?
Mom: Is that one word or two?
Dad: well don’t stop anywhere. You know that’s not the best part of town.
Me: Yes, thanks for that, tell me something I don’t know!
Dad: well if it were me, I’d be finding someplace else to eat.
Me: Grrrr!!!!
meanwhile… Emily calls her friend Houston (we have a problem) and gets more faulty directions (what is it with faulty directions? Twice in one night? Oh REALLY??)
To make a long story short (too late) we found the place, had a lovely dinner, and managed to get back across the river without any trouble.
Friday, January 21, 2005
This One's an All-Skate
Hallelujah, it’s Friday. And the forecast shows another good weekend in store for the girls of the Penthouse. More out-of-town guests, a potential trip to Tootsie's and JJ's, a home Kentucky game, a newly Nashville-transplanted Kentuckian/UM resident (that’s ugly Massachusetts) (Welcome to FT, Holt!!) (Fat Tennessee) (These parenthetical references are making absolutely no sense to most of you, but I’m trying to keep you in the loop with all of the inside jokes thrown in here) (btw, isn’t parenthetical a great word? It just might have to go on the revised List of Favorite Words.), and a partridge in a pear tree.
So we’re in a random mood here at the divadomain headquarters, aka the Bone & Joint Clinic, so our CEO has decided to grace you with a plethora of blogworthy tidbits that I have been meaning to include in a post on here, but for one reason or another they have been pushed aside, shoved under a bed, and put in a corner until now (Nobody puts Bradley in a corner!). Because they’re just that good.
Momma B found this for me last week: It’s an article about a sheriff in Arizona who ordered hot pink handcuffs for his prisoners to deter people from stealing them. The handcuffs, not the prisoners. The picture is just priceless.
Dennis, our music minister, made reference to an All-Skate at choir rehearsal one night, ie "this one’s an all-skate, so everybody sing on the chorus." Used in context this is a great phrase we all need to bring back!
The rest are thanks to Ari:
A sign at Schlotsky’s Deli: "our prices have went up by 5%."
If you don’t understand why this is funny, we’re laughing at you and not with you.
A reference to hottie ER doctor Goran Visnjic as being a Euro-Clooney
And finally, the classic response to the person who says, "We was down at such-and-such the other day and..."
"Oh Was you?"
So we’re in a random mood here at the divadomain headquarters, aka the Bone & Joint Clinic, so our CEO has decided to grace you with a plethora of blogworthy tidbits that I have been meaning to include in a post on here, but for one reason or another they have been pushed aside, shoved under a bed, and put in a corner until now (Nobody puts Bradley in a corner!). Because they’re just that good.
Momma B found this for me last week: It’s an article about a sheriff in Arizona who ordered hot pink handcuffs for his prisoners to deter people from stealing them. The handcuffs, not the prisoners. The picture is just priceless.
Dennis, our music minister, made reference to an All-Skate at choir rehearsal one night, ie "this one’s an all-skate, so everybody sing on the chorus." Used in context this is a great phrase we all need to bring back!
The rest are thanks to Ari:
A sign at Schlotsky’s Deli: "our prices have went up by 5%."
If you don’t understand why this is funny, we’re laughing at you and not with you.
A reference to hottie ER doctor Goran Visnjic as being a Euro-Clooney
And finally, the classic response to the person who says, "We was down at such-and-such the other day and..."
"Oh Was you?"
Thursday, January 20, 2005
a Nashvillian for life
"Did you know that dogs and bees can smell beer?"
No, not really- that was just a misunderstood quote from Jerry Maguire.
The thermometer reads a pleasant 52 degrees on this gorgeous January afternoon , reminding me how much I love living in Tennessee! I always said growing up that I would someday move to New York City because I fell in love with the city after visiting at age 11, but now that possibility seems further and further from reality. Why would I ever leave Nashville? It's a great city, with so many nooks and crannies that I am still discovering (Was there really life before discovering Chitown and Tootsies?). My family is here. My history is here. I can be a UT fan during football season, and a Kentucky fan during basketball season (and have plenty of others nearby to cheer the Cats along with me). I can go back and forth between being a city girl and a country girl whenever the mood strikes me. I can wear short sleeves in the winter, and flip flops for the majority of the year. True, it doesn't snow that often, but when it does, the whole state shuts down and makes a major event of it, making it more special I think. I love how genuinely nice people are, and hearing phrases like "well bless his heart." I am grateful that God is someone who is talked about often and people don't give you a weird look if you ask them where they go to church. The hills and landscape are beautiful. The city of Nashville has so much personality that it will always be home to me no matter where life takes me. Nothing felt better than making that trip back from Lexington and coming over the hill on I-65 and seeing the Nashville skyline in the distance. I could breathe a contented sigh and say to myself, "I'm finally home." Admitedly, I am not a person who likes change (heck, I had tears streaming down my face at my highschool graduation- I thought life could not get any better than Brentwood High! Ha!), but just like the Chicken O'Tenders at O'Charley's (the OC for those in the know) why would you want to change a good thing?
No, not really- that was just a misunderstood quote from Jerry Maguire.
The thermometer reads a pleasant 52 degrees on this gorgeous January afternoon , reminding me how much I love living in Tennessee! I always said growing up that I would someday move to New York City because I fell in love with the city after visiting at age 11, but now that possibility seems further and further from reality. Why would I ever leave Nashville? It's a great city, with so many nooks and crannies that I am still discovering (Was there really life before discovering Chitown and Tootsies?). My family is here. My history is here. I can be a UT fan during football season, and a Kentucky fan during basketball season (and have plenty of others nearby to cheer the Cats along with me). I can go back and forth between being a city girl and a country girl whenever the mood strikes me. I can wear short sleeves in the winter, and flip flops for the majority of the year. True, it doesn't snow that often, but when it does, the whole state shuts down and makes a major event of it, making it more special I think. I love how genuinely nice people are, and hearing phrases like "well bless his heart." I am grateful that God is someone who is talked about often and people don't give you a weird look if you ask them where they go to church. The hills and landscape are beautiful. The city of Nashville has so much personality that it will always be home to me no matter where life takes me. Nothing felt better than making that trip back from Lexington and coming over the hill on I-65 and seeing the Nashville skyline in the distance. I could breathe a contented sigh and say to myself, "I'm finally home." Admitedly, I am not a person who likes change (heck, I had tears streaming down my face at my highschool graduation- I thought life could not get any better than Brentwood High! Ha!), but just like the Chicken O'Tenders at O'Charley's (the OC for those in the know) why would you want to change a good thing?
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
some fun links
My friend Winn (Who? What? Winn!) piggybacked on Rhonda Lu's post about the song Hillbilly porn and put up a link so that you can hear the song. Well, I am not so computer-inclined that I know how to put the song link on my page, but I'll give you the next best thing. Click here to go to Winn's site and check the post from Jan 17, complete with a pic of "Musica" to hear the hilarious song. (Only Nashvillians will probably really get this)
Secondly, I have found a girl after my own heart! My friend Bethany's friend Trisha. She blogs on a regular basis like I do, and seems to have a similar writing style and body of content as the divadomain does. True, I have never met her, but we are kindred spirits I think! Check out her site, complete with Napoleon Dynamite references, for a bit of reading enjoyment.
Secondly, I have found a girl after my own heart! My friend Bethany's friend Trisha. She blogs on a regular basis like I do, and seems to have a similar writing style and body of content as the divadomain does. True, I have never met her, but we are kindred spirits I think! Check out her site, complete with Napoleon Dynamite references, for a bit of reading enjoyment.
The 5 people you'd meet on Earth
Ok people. It's time for some interactive blogging. This is something we haven't done in awhile, but I stumbled across an old email this morning that begged the question, who are the 5 people you'd like to meet? They can be dead or alive, famous or not, but it's a fun hypothetical question to get you thinking on this chilly January morning. And since it's way too difficult to narrow it down to only 5 people ever that you'd like to rub elbows with, we're giving you 2 freebies allowing you a grand total of 7. Hey, 7's a good number. Why not? Alright, so Amanda's List includes the following, in no particular order:
1. Jesus
2. W.A. Mozart
3. Bill Clinton
4. Tom Hanks
5. William Shakespere
6. Paul McCartney
7. Brad Pitt
Happy pondering, and be sure to click that comments button and enlighten the rest of us with your list.
1. Jesus
2. W.A. Mozart
3. Bill Clinton
4. Tom Hanks
5. William Shakespere
6. Paul McCartney
7. Brad Pitt
Happy pondering, and be sure to click that comments button and enlighten the rest of us with your list.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
You mean I might have to Work all day?
Horror of all horrors! We had a little scare there yesterday afternoon, folks. I think our computer tech guy was installing some new software for the system here at work, or he put up a new firewall or something- but for a brief moment I had no internet access. None. Of course I still had my office email and thus access to the outside world, but the thoughts just began racing: no launchcast radio. No looking up sports scores. No googling. No yahoo mail. And worst of all- the straw that broke the camel’s back- No Blogging. (GASP). Yes, you read that correctly.
So what’s a girl to do? As I sent Rhonda an email in all caps in my panic, I tried to remain calm and wait it out, since I had received no company email detailing changes in our internet access abilities. But the thought crossed my mind: I might have to work for 8 solid hours with no breaks! That’s just cruel and unusual punishment, is what that is! The second thought that crossed my mind was, I have to find a new job NOW!! The third thought was, I wonder if Emily and Rhonda will be willing to get cable internet at home… and the thoughts kept on coming!
But dear and faithful readers, rest assured that as you read this, the internet is back up and running (although I have noticed a few changes- no pictures, and still no Launchcast radio :o( BUT I am grateful for the access that I have).
Quick movie review: Saw the Aviator yesterday. I’ll be honest: I have mixed emotions. It was a strange film. And I’m not sure if I classify it as strange because Howard Hughes was an eccentric man, and any movie depicting his life is going to be kooky- (all I can say is people, if you think I have OCD tendencies, well, this man just puts me to absolute shame) or if I thought it was strange because I just don’t "get" Scorsese’s directing. It was one of those films that ended and you sit there and go- what? (Oh REALLY???) it’s over? It can’t be over- there are all these loose ends they forgot to tie up! So I feel that I can’t make a fair judgement on the movie. I will say that Leonardo DiCaprio gave a great performance. To me he crossed over from being the pretty boy in Titanic to becoming a great and serious actor. His portrayal definitely drew you in as an audience member and made you feel for Howard Hughes the person, and Cate Blanchett was fantastic as well. I’ve never been completely sold on her, but this film changed that for me. She stole every scene that she was in. The Aviator was 3 hours of my life that I will never get back, but with all the hype with the Golden Globes and potential Oscar nominees, it was one I had to see.
Who else is excited that it’s Tuesday? Anything is better than Monday right?
So what’s a girl to do? As I sent Rhonda an email in all caps in my panic, I tried to remain calm and wait it out, since I had received no company email detailing changes in our internet access abilities. But the thought crossed my mind: I might have to work for 8 solid hours with no breaks! That’s just cruel and unusual punishment, is what that is! The second thought that crossed my mind was, I have to find a new job NOW!! The third thought was, I wonder if Emily and Rhonda will be willing to get cable internet at home… and the thoughts kept on coming!
But dear and faithful readers, rest assured that as you read this, the internet is back up and running (although I have noticed a few changes- no pictures, and still no Launchcast radio :o( BUT I am grateful for the access that I have).
Quick movie review: Saw the Aviator yesterday. I’ll be honest: I have mixed emotions. It was a strange film. And I’m not sure if I classify it as strange because Howard Hughes was an eccentric man, and any movie depicting his life is going to be kooky- (all I can say is people, if you think I have OCD tendencies, well, this man just puts me to absolute shame) or if I thought it was strange because I just don’t "get" Scorsese’s directing. It was one of those films that ended and you sit there and go- what? (Oh REALLY???) it’s over? It can’t be over- there are all these loose ends they forgot to tie up! So I feel that I can’t make a fair judgement on the movie. I will say that Leonardo DiCaprio gave a great performance. To me he crossed over from being the pretty boy in Titanic to becoming a great and serious actor. His portrayal definitely drew you in as an audience member and made you feel for Howard Hughes the person, and Cate Blanchett was fantastic as well. I’ve never been completely sold on her, but this film changed that for me. She stole every scene that she was in. The Aviator was 3 hours of my life that I will never get back, but with all the hype with the Golden Globes and potential Oscar nominees, it was one I had to see.
Who else is excited that it’s Tuesday? Anything is better than Monday right?
Monday, January 17, 2005
Tim, Wildcats, & get-togethers: what could be better?
What an amazing weekend! It would have been perfect if I had not somehow contracted the Black Lung from Rhonda (he he) but oh well. My weekend began at 3pm on Friday afternoon when I left work early in order to do a few last-minute errands before my friend Greg got into town. One sun-shiney hour later, my office email pen-pal-of-sorts arrived at the Penthouse. He, Rhonda, and I went to an early dinner where Emily met us shortly after. I coined the phrase “I’ve got sticky on my fingers,” and we girls explained to Greg the plight of dressing to go out in the winter over our respective dinners (ie. You don’t want to drag a bulky coat wherever you go, but then you don’t want to freeze walking from the car to wherever you are going, and plus it’s usually hot inside the bar or club or whatever, so what’s a savvy dresser to do?). I ran to my first Pirates meeting soon after where I received my score, this week’s rehearsal, and a cd of the operatta, and got back asap so that Greg and I could meet Rhonda Lu, Laurie, Ryan, and Emmy Sue down at the Gaylord Focker Entertainment Center to see none other than Mr. Hotness himself, Tim McGraw.
Now it’s funny: whenever anyone has asked me how the concert was, I respond with an enthusiastic “It was great!” before pausing to think about what was so great about it. True, Tim looked hot in his tight T-shirt and jeans. But he forgot the words to several of his songs: not so great. He had incredible energy, and charisma with the crowd: great. Vocally however, he sounded scratchy and tired; also not so great. The sound also wasn’t very good inside the GFEC making it hard to understand our Real Good Man sometimes.
Q: So how then can I possibly categorize the concert as being great?
A: Because there are some things like an on-stage persona and the ability to pull a crowd into a show that just can’t be taught.
Roger said it best in his blog when he made the comment that Tim’s show was great just because he is Tim McGraw, and I agree. Tim could have performed nursery rhymes and I think the crowd still would have screamed and sang along with every word! Him closing with Real Good Man/The Ride in a Nashville Kats jersey was just the icing on the cake. After the show we randomly ran into Jean and Tabitha on the sidewalk and drug them along with us to the world famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. I think everyone else who had been at the Tim McGraw concert had the same idea we did, so the upper room got packed out fast. No matter though, we pushed ourselves to the front and sang along to Jared Ashley as usual.
5:30 am came early Saturday morning, but some things are more important than sleep. And one of those things is UK basketball. Greg and I left the Penthouse at 6am and got back a little before 8pm that night after having watched the Cats pose a76-55 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. It was a fun game to watch, and I have pictures coming. I just might even have one of a certain Duke fan wearing Kentucky Blue.
Saturday night was spent watching football and then (Finally, after months of anticipation…) Garden State with the roomies and Brad Johnson. This is quite possibly in my top 3 movies of 2004 to see. I would hate to make a bold statement such as that only to have to retract it because I forgot about another gem of a film, but in any case, it definitely breaks into my Top 5 of the year. Zach Braff’s screenplay was very true to life, while maintaining a very tongue-in-cheek view of life in Jersey. And does anyone know offhand the significance of the color orange in this movie? I plan on watching it again before returning Laura’s DVD to her to see if I can figure it out on my own, but if you pay attention, there is orange everywhere!!
Sunday was spent checking off things on my To-Do list, watching football (poor Peyton!) and beginning to learn my Pirates score. It felt good to actually vocalize and sing some after not having done so in absolutely forever. The role of Mabel is going to be so much fun to sing- I can already tell. Finally we gals had a few friends over to watch the Golden Globes where we ate pizza and made catty remarks about ladies’ dresses. By the way, Finding Neverland got Robbed. But I’m going to see the Aviator today so I’ll give you my humble opinion tomorrow.
Now it’s funny: whenever anyone has asked me how the concert was, I respond with an enthusiastic “It was great!” before pausing to think about what was so great about it. True, Tim looked hot in his tight T-shirt and jeans. But he forgot the words to several of his songs: not so great. He had incredible energy, and charisma with the crowd: great. Vocally however, he sounded scratchy and tired; also not so great. The sound also wasn’t very good inside the GFEC making it hard to understand our Real Good Man sometimes.
Q: So how then can I possibly categorize the concert as being great?
A: Because there are some things like an on-stage persona and the ability to pull a crowd into a show that just can’t be taught.
Roger said it best in his blog when he made the comment that Tim’s show was great just because he is Tim McGraw, and I agree. Tim could have performed nursery rhymes and I think the crowd still would have screamed and sang along with every word! Him closing with Real Good Man/The Ride in a Nashville Kats jersey was just the icing on the cake. After the show we randomly ran into Jean and Tabitha on the sidewalk and drug them along with us to the world famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. I think everyone else who had been at the Tim McGraw concert had the same idea we did, so the upper room got packed out fast. No matter though, we pushed ourselves to the front and sang along to Jared Ashley as usual.
5:30 am came early Saturday morning, but some things are more important than sleep. And one of those things is UK basketball. Greg and I left the Penthouse at 6am and got back a little before 8pm that night after having watched the Cats pose a76-55 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. It was a fun game to watch, and I have pictures coming. I just might even have one of a certain Duke fan wearing Kentucky Blue.
Saturday night was spent watching football and then (Finally, after months of anticipation…) Garden State with the roomies and Brad Johnson. This is quite possibly in my top 3 movies of 2004 to see. I would hate to make a bold statement such as that only to have to retract it because I forgot about another gem of a film, but in any case, it definitely breaks into my Top 5 of the year. Zach Braff’s screenplay was very true to life, while maintaining a very tongue-in-cheek view of life in Jersey. And does anyone know offhand the significance of the color orange in this movie? I plan on watching it again before returning Laura’s DVD to her to see if I can figure it out on my own, but if you pay attention, there is orange everywhere!!
Sunday was spent checking off things on my To-Do list, watching football (poor Peyton!) and beginning to learn my Pirates score. It felt good to actually vocalize and sing some after not having done so in absolutely forever. The role of Mabel is going to be so much fun to sing- I can already tell. Finally we gals had a few friends over to watch the Golden Globes where we ate pizza and made catty remarks about ladies’ dresses. By the way, Finding Neverland got Robbed. But I’m going to see the Aviator today so I’ll give you my humble opinion tomorrow.
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