Happy Birthday Paul.....

This post is about 60 days late...but you all know i am a lazy blogger... :-)

I get teased all the time about the fact that I have multiple "best friends." It's kinda true....I have accumulated a lot because I have moved around a lot in my life. I was a military brat and moved 7 times growing up, then moved away for college in Tennessee, then moved to Atlanta, then Chicago, and now back to Atlanta. I think growing up I really hated it, but as an adult, I realize it really has shaped me into the person I am today.

There is one friend that I have known the longest...my friend Paul. We met in seventh grade, working at the concession stand in school to raise money for Student Council. Every week we had the same shift during lunch, and we have been best friends ever since. He actually took me on my first date to the Puff Daddy and the Family concert....(he was the only guy my dad trusted to take me out....i think we all know why now...wink, wink).

Our friendship is very different from others I think, because we have been friends for 15 years. He has been around for every major event of my life so far. Typically, as a military brat, you don't keep friendships that long. You move, you lose touch, but never with Paul... Since I have been back in Atlanta, we get together every week, and recently realized, after 15 years of friendship, we have never gotten in one argument.....not one.

I have tons and tons of stories of laughter and fun, and I could probably do an entire separate blog full of stories...but some things should just stay between old friends....
I do however want to take the time to thank you Paul for some very specific things throughout the years....one for every year that we have been friends:

1. Thank you for not telling our Student Council advisor that I stole 1 pack of Now and Laters every time we were in the concession shop. Well, stealing is a harsh word...i just conveniently gave myself a 50% discount for my complimentary services. :-)


2. Thank you for always engaging in ridiculous songs that we made up in honors English. In fact, you should be thanking me...now that you are a part of a music production group, it was probably my influence that got your creative juices flowing.....i'm just sayin....


3. Thank you for letting my copy your Algebra homework....you knew I sucked at math and never held that against me...


4. Thank you for convincing my dad to let me go to the Puff Daddy concert with you. It was the perfect first date, and opened the door to my entire dating experience. (it all went downhill from there)


5. Oh and speaking of that concert, thank you for buying me pancakes at Ihop after my friend Tiffany forgot where she was supposed to pick us up, and we ended up walking aimlessly around the Alamodome for hours.


6. Thank you for not telling my brother that i made out with BJ at Tre's end of the school year Pajama Party....he would have killed him and then Judson wouldn't have made it to the state championship that year! AND! He wouldn't have been alive to be an extra in that Disney movie about that college basketball team....


7. In fact, thank you for telling my parents that I spent the night at your house instead of at Tre's house that night...even though nothing happened...they would have been PISSED!


8. Furthermore, thank you for protecting me when Tre became psychotic about me years later.


9. Thank you for spending an entire Sunday looking for my lost keys after that wild and crazy night out with the "kids." Even though, it was kinda your fault...you let big Paul make me all those drinks with Vodka and Crunk Juice....i can hardly be held responsible for losing them in his couch, and making you drive back to every place we went to the night before until finally realizing around 9pm where they were.


10. Thank you for bringing our middle school yearbook to my wedding....really....thanks a lot.


11. Thank you for always finding a nice way to tell me when i look a mess....instead of just saying..."Tina....you look a mess." wait.....you do say that...so thank you for saying it in a way that never hurts my feelings...


12. Thank you for always driving 30 miles to my side of town to go to dinner. I know its a pain in the butt...but so worth it once you get here right?


13. Thank you for never judging me....EVER....when you had every right to...


14. You don't have a selfish bone in your body....thank you for that...I always know what you tell me comes from a truly loving place


15. And finally, thank you for your friendship. I can't imagine my life without it.

Happy Birthday Paul! I LOVE YOU!

A Loaded Present.....

Christmas has always been a big deal in my family. My mother has 6 brothers and sisters, and between the 7 of them, there are a total of 14 grandchildren....Most of us are all around about a 3-4 year age range. We try to always get together and stuff ourselves into my grandparents home to celebrate the holiday. Needless to say, back in the day, 14 young children calls for a LOT of presents, and a LOT of noise.

When we all grew up and became adults, we started a new tradition, which was no presents at Christmas. It is the best idea that we have ever come up with, and took a huge load off of everyone. It's not as if we don't want to buy things for each other, but we figured we are all working adults, and there is nothing that we want that we couldn't afford on our own if we didn't have 30 people (literally) to buy for in December. We of course buy gifts for the little kids and fill the tree, but for the most part, we all just buy something that we want for ourselves, make tons of food and bring our favorite bottle of wine. We have been doing this for the past 5 years and I LOVE it.

I rolled out of bed on Christmas morning....I say morning as in 11:30...(we were out at my uncle's bar the night before) and joined my family in the living room when my mother comes up to Ken and I with a beautifully wrapped gift. Of course, I feel terrible because I followed the rules, and didn't get her anything. She smiled and said, " Just open it. I wanted to get you and Ken something very special this year."

This is my mother's "special" gift.

Of course everyone in the room erupted in hysterical laughter.... I on the other hand did not think this was funny. Does anyone else think that this gift is a bit psychotic? I am not pregnant, and even if I were she is already assuming she is having a grandson? Granted, when we decided to move back to Georgia, starting a family was a big part of the consideration, but good grief, we have only been here 9 months!

I feel like the baby talk starts as soon as you say "I do." I love how everyone encourages you to have a baby.....as if they are going to help with the 3am feedings, diaper changes, childcare costs, or stretch marks.

I love children, and it did make me think about what exactly I was waiting for. Do I think I am mentally and physically ready to have a child? YES. Am I willing to give up a big part of my social life for parks and potty training? YES. In fact, my liver would thank me for it. I know that it will be hard work, but truly believe that if I do become pregnant, I will be excited, happy, and confident that Ken and I will be committed to being the best parents we can be. So why aren't we having children now? The answer is................. None of your damn business!

I have a very sweet client who has been married for over 30 years and never had children. Her and her husband are very well travelled, throw amazing parties, and spoil the crap out of their nieces and nephews. I know that Ken and I will probably not be that couple, but she did give me great advice on a tactic to get people off your back about getting pregnant.

She said whenever someone asks you when you are going to have children, drop your head, make a pitiful face and softly say, " Oh, ....we're trying...." This will make people so embarrassed for their nosiness, that they will likely not ask you the question again. When you do become pregnant, they will be even more excited and happy for you.

Sounds like a plan to me!

P.S. I am quite aware that I might have to eat my words. I am sure I will be writing a blog entry in the next couple of months with a title... "We're PREGNANT!" Isn't that always how it happens?

hello?.....is it me you're looking for?

Probably not lately! I could say that I have just been so busy that I have had no time to blog, but honestly, I just haven't made time to. Life has been a series of rollercoasters both personally and professionally over the past few months, and I think having an outlet would have been nice....instead of blogging, i decided that wine would be my outlet...but the liver can only take so much my friends...

I am looking forward to sharing with the 4 people that still read my blog....(or randomly check to see if i have updated) I have a whole three months of pictures, events, and funny stories to share....

P.S. My mother went to college with Lionel Richie. She used to let him copy her notes from class when he would have to miss them to do a show...funny huh? Wish she would have let him do more than copy her notes....I could have been Paris Hilton's ex-best friend!

July....

Well good grief...July is OVER! How did that happen? Well maybe because I have decided that I can cram everything that pops up in my mind to do into my daily schedule. I have not had such a busy schedule (some of it work, some of it self inflicted) EVER in my life.... I read that the most successful people in life don't sleep...I believe after reading that, I have unconsciously taken away 2 hours of sleep each day, and you would be AMAZED at how much I can fit in my day now....apparently blogging is not one of them because I haven't updated in forever...

I have come to grips with the fact that my digital camera cord got lost in my move to Atlanta, so although I have been taking awesome pictures of everything that has been going on...they are trapped on my camera until I can get them off. I was looking through my pictures on my iphone and thought it told a lot of what has been going on for the past few weeks.... If you follow me on twitter, you have already seen all of these...but here is a little bit of my month of July in pictures.... told my my iphone...

Went to Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Ohio for a week long work trip. We had a client event in a suite at the Cleveland Indians field. I love baseball games...

Also made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... super fun...

Made it back from Ohio to see the concert I have been waiting on ALL year... BEYONCE!! It was amazing.....She is an incredible performer....I had goosebumps for the entire show...and she worked it out.. Two and a half hours of singing and dancing... no intermission...

I was so glad that I made it down to Alabama for the 4th of July with my family...It was the first time in 3 years that I was able to spend the holiday with them. We had a wonderful time, and I got to love on my sweet little baby... This is my cousins baby Josh in his batman pajamas... I must admit, I think I got bit by the baby bug a little when I left him....I love that little guy...

Here is Ken and I at the Braves game... much needed outing for us. Ken has been working 80 hour weeks since he got down to Georgia...but if you know him, this is no suprise. Hopefully things will slow down at work for him soon...Although, him working late has eliminated my temptation to not go to the gym...by the time I get back, he is just getting home and then we get to have dinner and some alone time together...

Ended out the month with a work trip to Kansas City. I was only there for 3 days but every moment that I wasn't working I spent in my hotel room sleeping...it was exhausting. I did find this cute cupcake place where I picked up treats for some clients....and...YES..i did get a cupcake for myself... Raspberry Lemonade Cupcake....ummmmm....

This is my sweet friend Kori. We have been such great friends for almost 10 years now. I have a group of friends that all get together EVERY weekend. Typically we get together for a drink on Friday night, then meet up on Sunday nights to watch True Blood, Hung and Entourage. We all went to my favorite dive bar last weekend and had a blast. We were out much later than we usually are but ended our night on Kori's rooftop overlooking the city. It totally reminded me of my old rooftop in Chicago...I guess I do miss Lake Michigan and the skyline...

Can you guess where I am in the picture above?? There is only one place in Atlanta where your plate is this empty EVERY time you eat there and they use such fine china.... You got it! Waffle House! Honestly, I have been in Atlanta for 3 months now and last weekend was the first time I went.... yes...it's good to be home...

So You Think You Can Dance - Week 1

I have waited for an entire year for this moment...... season five of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Every year I love/dread the new season, because I can never imagine loving any other dancers as much as i loved the dancers from the season before. This has proven to be even more true this year....

I love love love love LOVED last season. I'm in love with Twitch, i adored Joshua, Katie was the BEST, Chelsea was amazing, and the winner in my heart was Will. I could have watched Will dance all day. Needless to say this season had some really big shoes to fill in my opinion. I decided that i wasn't going to compare... I was just going to enjoy this top twenty, pick out my favorites and move on. (Plus all my last season favorites are in Step it Up Three-D and I will be at the theater the day it comes out!)

I thought it would be fun to talk about my favorites each week, so i came up with a rating system....Since it is a dance show, the rating is on a scale of 1-5 pirouettes.... 5 being the highest. I took dance growing up, but am in no way an expert, so my comments are based solely off my opinion of performance....

Okay so here we go.....

Dance #1: Jeanine & Phillip

I liked their performance. Phillip is always cool to watch, I didn't really pay much attention to Jeanine. I was not as impressed as the judges, but i felt like it was a good, solid performance. I love Tabitha and Napoleon, and they did a great job as usual. I give it a solid 3 Pirouettes.....clean, challenging, but not overly impressive.

Dance #2: Asuka & Vitolio

I will go ahead and say it.....i am not an Asuka fan....sorry...she isn't curvy enough for me as a ballroom dancer...i am not excited when she dances...for this i will compare back to season four... She can't hold a candle to Chelsea. I do like Vitotolio, but the judges were right...I almost fell asleep watching them...not entertaining...but snaps to Tyce D. I think the piece would have worked with dancers with more personality. I give this one 2 pirouettes..... their arms and legs were all in the right place, but nothing exciting.

Dance #3: Karla & Johnathan

After watching this dance, I was starting to get really annoyed. I did not enjoy this at all. Johnathan looks like a little wimpy twinkletoed fairy....and he dances like one too...not masculine at all for me. Karla was okay...ballroom is definitely not her specialty. At the end of this dance I really felt like.... Blah Blah....NEXT! 1 pirouette for this one......

Dance #4: Randi and Evan

Finally!!! FINALLY!!! Awesome dance...Tyce did an amazing job with choreography, and i just love these two together. I saw the chemistry, i got the story through their dance and thought the entire piece was beautiful. Definitely 4 pirouettes for this one.....

Dance #5: Paris and Tony

Okay....i know, i know.... i think Tony is cute too...but come on...Tabitha and Napoleon gave them a super cool, hard hitting routine, and they should have TORN IT UP! I wasn't really feeling it. I agreed with Adam when he said that he doesn't want Tony to be the cute guy that just gets through every round...I don't think he was dancing as good as he should have been. I really like Paris as a dancer and at least she has the excuse that she isn't a hip hop dancer....but Tony? Gotta do better than that buddy....3 pirouettes for this one...just because Tony is still cute as hell, and the music and choreography were pretty dope...

Dance #6: Caitlin & Jason

I like that they throw Bollywood into the mix now...the only problem is that it causes a direct comparison to Joshua and Katie last year. I think this couple did a really good job. I have liked Jason since he was on the audition show, and secretly I am really hoping he makes it to the top 4. I thought that this was a really good piece...Kaitlin's handstand was SICK...I think i would have enjoyed this more if i had not seen it last season....Four pirouettes for this one...I think they absolutely did this as good as Katie and Joshua...but not better...

Dance #7: Janette & Brandon

I really liked that these two were put together. I thought they had good chemistry and they performed well together. Brandon is strong as an OX....those lifts were AMAZING...it probably could have been smoother, but i think they did a good job. Brandon is my favorite guy dancer, and although i want to give them a higher score, i must be objective....3 pirouettes for this pair...

Dance #8: Ashley & Kupono

Gotta love Wade Robson....totally weird and twisted, and i LOVED every minute of it! I think the two of them stayed in character perfectly and their dancing was beautiful. I loved watching the clip with him teaching them choreography because Wade is SUCH an amazing dancer...i think they totally did the piece justice...4 pirouettes...incredible performance

Dance #9: Melissa & Ade

BEAUTIFUL.....i love Mandy Moore's choreography all of the time, and i really think this was one of her best pieces. This to me was a perfect example of a woman, dancing like a woman and a man dancing like a man. Melissa was gorgeous and feminine, and Ade was strong and powerful. I don't even have to think about it....a perfect score of 5 pirouettes for these two....

Dance #10: Kayla & Max

I was screaming as loud as Mary Murphy when this dance was over. What an incredible way to end the show. Kayla is DEFINITELY my favorite girl dancer this year for sure. I hope she goes all the way. Max was good too, but I am anxious to see how well he will do with the other dance genres. This dance gets 5 pirouettes, and in my opinion....it was the best dance of the night!!!

Bottom Three For Me: Asuka and Vitolio, Karla and Jonathan, Paris and Tony

Going Home: Asuka & Vitolio

Favorite Choreography This Week: Mandy Moore and Wade Robson

All in all I think this is going to be a great season. I am sure I will warm to them, as I have warmed to the dancers in other years. I can't promise that I will have recaps every week, but this was fun to do. I hope all of you are enjoying it as much as I am .... I can't wait till next week!

What's Been Up...

It's been a long time since I blogged, and honestly I have been living life in fast forward for the past month. I started this blog when I lived in Chicago as a way to keep my friends and family informed on what was going on in my life. Well now that I am here with 80% of my friends and family, it hasn't really felt like I needed to update as much. I can't even believe how quickly 4 weeks have flown by. I have kept myself very busy by choice. I went from doing things every now and then in Chicago, to having my phone light up every Friday with invitations to spend time with people. I haven't even been taking pictures which is the most upsetting. I did happen to get a few in here and there to share......

Terri and I at the Braves game....

Me and the Hubby at my brother's graduation.....

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo....

So that's it. No awesome vacation, no major announcements. Just good times with good friends, and a loving family. Two week countdown to my husband's birthday weekend/The Flowers come to town! Can't wait!

There's No Place Like Home.....

Preface: There are a lot of people struggling and hurting out there due to the state of the economy. I hope this story comes as an inspiration to everyone, that good things are still happening, and this whole mess WILL turn around.

Exactly 2 months ago, I was sitting in Hartsfield-Jackson airport, on my way home from visiting Terri for her 80s prom party, and crying my eyes out on the phone with my husband. My friend Liz and I had just had lunch, and it was the first time I had seen her in months. She asked the same question everyone always asks me....."So how are things in Chicago?"

Instantly I teared up. It is the same story over and over again. Chicago is a nice enough city, but I don't like living there. It's cold and gloomy 9 months a year, the other 3 months when it is warm its fine. So for 3 months out of every year, I am semi-happy there. I have met some great people, but I miss everyone in Georgia, I miss my family. I am depressed every holiday that I can't come home. I go to Atlanta all the time, because any chance I get to get out of Chicago I jump on it. I gained 30 pounds because I go to work, I come home, and I am typically by myself because Ken works so many hours. I don't want to do anything when I get home except curl up on the couch and watch mindless television. The worst part about it is, I don't see an end in sight. The blessing and curse of being married to an overachiever, is that he is doing so well at his job.... 3 years and 3 promotions with his company......why do something to shake that up? I can't move, the economy is terrible right now, and we would have to sell our house and find new jobs. That is NEVER going to happen in this RECESSION!


Elizabeth said something to me that instantly changed everything. "You and Ken are talented enough to get new jobs, smart enough to get your condo sold or rented, and young enough to make a mistake that you can make up for later."


She was right. Since when did i let obstacles get in the way of something i wanted? Since when did i start believing that extraordinary things can't happen in my life? I have always been a person of GREAT faith. When did i start letting what people tell me effect my course in life?


I went home to talk to Ken about it, and at first he didn't really take me seriously. He has heard this before. He knew that I wanted to move back but wanted to wait a few more years. Ken was born and raised in Chicago, and had only left to go to college. He wanted to stay in Chicago, for the same reasons why I wanted to move back to Atlanta. I knew that he was going to say the same things that I did, think the same things that everyone thinks about making any changes right now. After about a week, he came home and very simply told me that if I wasn't happy, then he wasn't happy. He had called his boss, told him the situation, and submitted a request for a transfer to the Atlanta office.

When things happen in my life, they happen like a tidal wave. If I am suppose to make major changes in my life, it's like the sky opens and a bright light shines down showing me the way. The next series of events showed that to be true again. So much so, that even my husband was amazed.

The next day I gave a call to a recruiter and asked her if she knew of any jobs in the Atlanta area that I would be qualified for. She had the perfect job. An Atlanta hotel, looking for someone with Midwest sales experience to take over their Midwest accounts. Two days later, I was on a phone interview with the VP of sales, 2 days after that I flew into Atlanta for an interview, 4 days after that I was faxing them a signed offer letter accepting the new position.


When I let everyone know at my current job, they were sad to see me go but happy that I was leaving. They all knew how desperately I wanted to get back to Georgia. I left with warm hugs and well wishes......and was paid for 2 weeks and didn't have to work! It gave me a chance to begin packing my house, have a FAB trip with my Four Fat Chicks, and spend some time with my Chicago friends before I had to leave.


My new job was so flexible with me. They were going to allow me to work from Chicago until Ken got everything settled with his transfer. Well, that never happened, because Ken was hired, and they needed him to start a project with them immediately. So, in 7 days, I had to pack my house, find movers, get the condo cleaned and painted, get it on the market....oh wait...did I mention that I had to be in Atlanta training for 5 of those days??


It all worked out. We got everything done, moved, and it all happened in perfect timing with my aunt and uncle's townhouse in Atlanta being recently vacated by their renter. This place was in a perfect location for Ken's job and mine, the perfect amount of space for the two of us, and in a great location filled with lots of fun dining and shopping options. When I was training in Atlanta, i got the keys to our new place. When we pulled up on the day that we moved in, there was a whole team of my friends and family waiting to help us unpack and get settled. You would not believe the amount of work that we got done that afternoon.

I hope this post does not come off like I am bragging, or that I don't know what is going on right now. I am very aware of the unemployment rate, I am very aware of the state of the housing market, I am very aware that there are tough times right now. But I am aware of something else too. There is nothing that is too big for GOD. I had everyone i knew on their knees praying for Ken and I, and I know that it made all the difference. I had just met Tiffany Mendenhall and her sweet family in Chicago, and after knowing them for about an hour, I even had them praying too!
Ken and i have a new motto. WE ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECESSION. I truly feel that if everyone took on that attitude, things would get better. Whether you believe in God or not, i think we can all agree about the power of positive thinking. Your thoughts create your reality, you attitude creates your environment. If you consume yourself with thoughts of how bad things are, and live in fear of what could happen, you don't leave room for positive things to come in.

These past 2 weeks have been wonderful. I have spent time with friends, seen my entire family, watched my little brother graduate from college, and have had my whole attitude and outlook on life completely change. I am happier now, I love my husband even more, and there is a peace in my spirit that I haven't ever felt.

I am thinking about buying some ruby red slippers and putting them in my house just to remind me of exactly what can happen in your life when you have the courage and faith to change it, despite all the odds. There truly is no place like home.....