day 131 Happy New Year!!

WHAT A YEAR THIS HAS BEEN!

 This New Year’s Eve marks the end of a slew of experiences that made me a stronger person, some negative, some positive and some a little of both. The good thing about experiences is that they are past tense and typically created an opportunity to learn something (I learn daily). If you don't have experiences you don't have a story to tell. I have a story to tell and I am excited to see to how the next chapter will play out in this brand NEW YEAR.

I think it’s funny that it’s my first NYE in Nashville and I am going to Manchester instead. Me and Kelly are heading to Brandy’s for the night (we call ourselves the half circle) and I wouldn't have it any other way. We are gonna celebrate and bring in the new year with fire! Bon fire, fireworks, fire chili, fire water, I am all fired up, I just hope we don't need a fire hose! They say that your year will reflect the moment you are having at the stroke of mid-night. I think that I am gonna roll around in a stack of ones, just hope they don’t catch on fire.

FIRE FIRE!!

day 130 still the day before the day before the first day of a new year

Friday night...I have been on the phone since I got home four and a half hours ago ( I love nights like this). I turned on the TV and Sugarland is on, its one of her concerts from when she was in Atlanta. This gets me all nostalgic. I immediately think of my very good friend Marybeth. She knows that I have been following Jennifer Nettles since I was 18 years old. My friend Rita turned me on to her in college, and then one day she came to play at my college as a local artist, just trying to make it. I went to a small private college, Reinhardt, and not many people came to visit, much less to play music. She showed up with her singing partner, Corey, and I was hooked! She was so talented, I made it a regular thing to follow her all over the state of Georgia. To see her progress from Soul Minors Daughter to The Jennifer Nettles Band to Sugarland over the last 16 years has made me a proud mama! I do miss seeing her as a raw artist at the 40 Watt in Athens, Georgia before she was famous. She used to belt out some acapella rawness that made me tear up and the local people standing behind her playing the bongos, steel guitar and drums were just mind blowing. I still own all of her music except for her first CD, I lost it and I am pissed because it was the BEST. Marybeth knew my love of her music from the beginning and bought me tickets a few years ago for my birthday. We went to one of her very first venues and for that, I will always be thankful. Thank you Marybeth, you are such a good friend, and one of these years I am gonna get you a birthday present :)
So I am sitting here on New Years Eve Eve and loving life, watching Jen Nettles, and talking to my friends.

Tomorrow night...New Years Eve in the country! Stay tuned!

Day 130 the day before the last day of the year

I didn't feel like blogging last night and I woke up feeling like a slacker. I have The Bert Show on right now and they are talking to a Pet Psychic.

 I started reading Angelogy (A richly Allusive and vividly staged...sensual intelligent, terrifically clever thriller) I think that thanslates into humans gettin it on with Angels..I will let you know....

ah crap, I have to get in the shower.....more later...like after work...I am gonna love today....its Friday and the New Year is approaching and that is exciting. In with the good out with the bad. Breathe in and breathe out. That's what I am gonna do at the stroke of midnight tomorrow night.

Oh am I worked out for the 2nd time in 2 days....someone give me a metal! I now have to listen to this pet psychic...its very bizarre. She is asking some cats and dogs some questions and they are answering this lady in her head.

day 129...the count down begins!

I am quite pleased with myself, I actually found the gym in my apartment complex. Oh how I missed a good workout... its on now! I have 26 days until I turn 35 and I would like get back to the way I was approximately 4 month ago....a little less booty and a lot more collar bone! (that's how I can tell how much I weigh, by how much of my collar bone sticks out, its been hiding all winter). The gym is actually really nice, all brand new equipment and I am pumped that I don't need to pay for no stinkin gym! (one less thing)
I also made the trip to the mailbox and I got a few more Christmas cards...Thank you to my wonderful friends Stayce, Beth, Michelle and Justin, you all look exactly like your gorgeous kids, especially you Justin :)

That's all I have for now...

day 128..

I am cracking up right now...there is this website about Atlanta and all the hotspots, where to go, who to see, where to go on NYE blah blah blah...well Lindsey and I made the homepage of this website like 9 years ago. I just looked up the site and our picture is still on the homepage... 9 years later! Why???!!! Lindsay looks fabulous, I sort of resemble Miss Piggy, so me pointing this out to everyone is just funny and I am ok with that...www.sheeratlanta.com 

Kelly came over tonight, I made her dinner, she almost fell over when she walked in, I have appetizers on display and me in the kitchen making dinner all domestic like. Stanger things have happened I am sure of it.

Nothing really all that exciting to report, BUT I do have to start thinking about my New Year’s Eve plans and what I am going to do with myself in my new city....

Day 127....post Christmas

If are a single woman, living on your own, there comes a point when you have to admit your strengths and weaknesses. Today my weakness was giving myself a mani/pedi.  Typically, I let other people do this for me, but in the spirit of moving and Christmas expenses, I decided I was gonna cut that corner and do them myself. Um well, one word, WEAKNESS, I have this file-thing that has 4 sides, one of the sides says "Course" they should of named it "Saw" my nails are now are sawed-off and my manicure is pretty much null and void. The pedicure, well, the polish will wash off the sides of my toes in the shower, so it has hope.  Let’s talk about my new STRENGHT, cooking, I made myself another amazing dinner, courtesy of George Foreman. Delicious turkey burgers with a side of spinach…success!!

I just came from Brandy's house, I joined her for Christmas. She found herself all by her lonesome after her dog so kindly locked her out of her own car while getting gas. It was Christmas Eve and she was heading down to Georgia to spend Christmas with her family after she spent an early Christmas with her two boys. I am sure her dog, Kilo, did not think it was so funny four hours later when road side assistance decided to show up and unlock the car. I am guessing Brandy didn't think it was all that funny either, she finally got on the road and the dog had a bout with diarrhea every 15 minutes in the car. Brandy made the decision to turn around and spend Christmas in Morrison, Tennessee. I joined her on Christmas; we sat around, laugh, talked and watched lots of racy, bloody, and ridiculous movies….Merry Christmas!

All in all, a very fun and memorable Christmas vacation, thank you to all of my awesome friends and family…u all keep me laughing……laughing keeps the skin tight, the mood light and I will now recite the prayer my dad gave before we ate Christmas dinner, “In God we Trust, everyone else pays cash”

Day 126 Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!


The Baswell Christmas is predictably unpredictable, every year it’s different but the same. For example, my dad always cuts down our Christmas tree from the yard (same) and this year we passing out presents and playing  “Guess who it’s for and guess who it’s from!” since none of them are marked. (Different) Another example, my mom makes the most amazing chocolate pie ever and I look forward to it every year, but over the past 5-7 years, she has altered the recipe just a little and it’s now the most unpredictable chocolate pie ever. As we speak, she is in the kitchen making it with molasses and honey instead of sugar, cocoa instead of chocolate and the crust is whole wheat, probably made out of wheat germ and saw dust.

I love that my Christmas’s are never boring, always interesting, and honestly, most people come from their families a few pounds heavier, I leave mine and feel like I have had a full body detox cleanse. And most people also come from their families with a lot less in the bank account, I on the other hand, get to take my mom to the Dollar Store on Christmas Eve and tell her she can have anything she wants (up to 5 items) and you woulda thought I gave her a brand new bicycle! She was so excited, especially since she had never been to the Dollar Store before and couldn't believe that everything was truly one dollar. Well I need to go see if my mom needs any help cleaning up the kitchen, AKA collecting compost materials.

Merry Christmas!!!!

day 126...Christmas Eve

I arrived yesterday at The Baswell Compound, home of the Granola Griswolds. So far today, I woke up to my mom making homemade granola (naturally) and then went on a power walk with my dad around the property. That dude is in excellent shape, I kept thinking that we should stop but the 64-year-old man had a different plan, which was fine with me, whip me into shape! I need it! On our walk I was telling him that I wanted to stay away from the gossip at work, that nothing good can come of it and he said gossipers are liars and thieves. "They lie about you and steal your serenity." Ok I can go along with that, so that is my new goal, stay naive to the gossip. After about 2 miles of up and down hills, it was time for a bubble bath. My mom drew me a bubble bath, she used her own special concoction of Rosemary, Lavender, Ala Vera and Lemons that she grew herself in her own garden. It you don't mind the occasional twig/leaf floating by, it was quite nice and now I smell like a meadow. I then let my mom talk me into giving me a facial, using one raw egg and one orange peel. Actually not gonna knock it, my skin feels amazing but the process is a work in progress. I just had some homemade vegetable soup that I am sure was the result of juicing something, again, if you don't mind the occasional twig/leaf it’s all good. SO if I don't turn into a bean sprout, I should leave here feeling like a new person. My mom just made me a green tea/orange infusion, things are about to get wild! Ok I seriously go gotta go start my Christmas shopping, I know I have a few hours before the stores close, but I don't wanna procrastinate and wait til the last minute.

day 125...I'm a fixer upper

Last night was a blast, hung out with 3 other girls at my office and we laughed the entire time. We went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner and exchanged out secret Santa gifts. We were the only ones in the restaurant and loud as hell. I went to the bathroom and this girl asked if I was part of the bachelorette party. She was referring to our table. Bachelorette party? Geeez how sad would that be to have your last night of being single in an empty Mexican restaurant, but it was funny that she thought we were hoopin it up enough to qualify as a bachelorette party.

I drank the kool-aid and settled comfortably in a fun little work clique, this is a newly formed alliance so we are now jockeying for position and falling into our little roles as the office whisperers (talking during office hours is frowned upon, so we whisper). My role of course is Single Stephanie from Atlanta who has become the token pet project, while they do get a kick out of my antics, enjoy my quirky ways and one-liners, the 3 girls look at me like a piece of clay that they need to mold, kinda like a cute little fixer-upper. The other girls are married and like contribute their "How to Keep a Man” and “How to not lose a guy in 10 days” advice. I took everything with a grain of salt since Rusty is my age and on her 4th marriage, Christina is my age and on her 3^rd marriage and Toni was engaged 5 times before she got married. I mean I am all for learning lessons through trial and error but 3 and 4 times?? Where to they find the time? I barely can find the time to get my oil changed much less plan a wedding every year. I will admit my ears perk up to all advice because I think taking other people’s “best practices” can trigger new light bulbs, so I am always open to listening to advice and suggestions.

The first “suggestion” I got from my new team of advisors (remember…its takes a village) is to stop wearing body spray that smells like the Xclamation perfume that we all wore when we were 12-years-old. Rusty told me to take it out of my purse and she threw it across the room for emphasis. Then the DO’s and DON’Ts segment began…. DO stand there and let the guy open all doors for you at all times, DON'T wear jeans at all times. DO where more flattering clothes (they said I dress cute but I don't flatter myself enough and I need to buy some 6-inch heels (this is not the first time I have heard this) They had a lot of good advice I think, they gave me some good tips on removing wrinkles, but I was not happy that Rusty felt the need to tell me that my neck looks like it has been hit with a Frisbee a few times. WHAT?? Are you freaking kidding me? First of all, telling me to wear more accessories is fine but don’t be bustin on my neck!  My neck, who cares about my neck? My neck is fine, and then I told her that her cars smells and then I felt better.

Ok I got to get motivated, I must start my Christmas shopping....hopefully the line won't be too long at the Dollar store.

day 124...what will be will be

SO I am coming off of a cleaning high, I have been organizing and cleaning all evening, I feel so much better about myself. I got a Christmas card from Amber (thanks girl) and got a pumpkin roll in the mail from Sarah! Wahoo, I have gotten a pumpkin roll every year since I can remember and this year it made its way up to Nashville and that's awesome. I am thinking of re-gifting it to my secret Santa recipient tomorrow, don't tell Sarah. The way I see it, I won't get any fatter and the pumpkin roll's goodness will have spread its wings even further. (just kidding girl)
I am also thinking about doing some shopping tomorrow during lunch, someone told me that Christmas was this weekend, I did not get the memo. I guess I will get in the spirit starting tomorrow, I don't like to wear out the Christmas welcome, I like to get into the mood about 3 day prior and drown myself in the Christmas spirit, kinda like I do everything else, cram for my final, stay at a friends house for 3 days, go on a 4 day diet, I never like to spread things for too long.

Ok this is so F'd up! I want to talk like I used to, about boys and my inner conflicts, and I can't because certain people read about it and journal is now censored! Ah screw it.

As everyone knows I hate playing games with boys, but of course I have to because that is what people say you are supposed to do in the dating arena. Again, for the record, I am against this, but I feel like me and a certain boy started off talking NON-stop, texting-talking-texting-talking all the freakin time and that was cool,because we were both participating and it was fun. NOW I feel like I am carrying on like we used to, but I also feel like I need to take a step back and play a little hard to get. I mean I have things to do and people to see, but I enjoy talking to him, he still makes me laugh, but we are dangerously entering the friend zone and that has happened to me ALOT. I am a guy's girl, I enjoy sports, talking about sports, enjoy bustin chops, enjoy being candid, being silly, being myself and just hangin. In the past, most of the time, this behavior translates into finding a new friend (lets face it, Gary and I were best friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend, and neither one of us wanted to admit it for years)  So now I am thinking that this is where we are headed, its understandable, but to be quite honest, I have enough friends. I want to make some plans and hang out all cutesy like. I want to be courted and not thought of as of one of the boys. I guess I have a lot to learn in the dating world, but most of it seems fake and one big game, and apparently that's the necessary step into ushy-gooshy-world. I don't want ooshy gooshy, but I do want to be the catch, the girl that's not like most girls, all dramatic, needy, catty, materialistic and co-dependent. I just want to be myself and want a man who respects that and is ok with that and wants to do the little things to make me happy, because it all boils down to the little things. I am a self- sufficient woman who enjoys the little things in life.

Ok now that I have stepped off of my soap box and have become aware that I just used my blog as a bullhorn to voice my way of thinking, I will shut up and wait for my all of my girls to hit their foreheads with their hands. But, what will be will be, I just felt like I needed to keep the honest, candid  theme of my daily thoughts and felt the need to express myself, otherwise, why have a public journal?

day 123...part 2

Ok so I just got off the phone with the girls. It was so good to catch up conference call style. We opened our goals that we all wrote down last Christmas that we wanted to accomplish for the upcoming year, along with one memory, we sealed them up, hid them away and just now opened them. I used to do this with Sarah, G, and Den every year, but that died out. They opened and read my goals that I wrote down this time last year:

1. Take care of  my skin, ie stop rubbing my make-up on and off of my eyes, creating wrinkles
 Nope didn't do it
2. Pay off all debt.
 Nope didn't do that either
3. Learn Spanish.
No comprende

My memory: Spending Josh's birthday (Christine's husband) at a restaurant on the beach with all my peeps and me wearing a weave that I bought from the gas station on the drive down.

Patti's memory: me doing the Superman Dance on stage in Destin

Christine's memory: Christin burning my hair with a match while I was sitting down  on the deck minding my own business (she lit a cigarette, the head of the match went flying and landed on my head) everyone just happened to be looking at me when this happened, so it was pretty funny as I went into freak out mode.

Alicia's memory: a hodge podge of stuff

(every one's memory has me in it, that kinda makes me smile)

So now I have to come up with all new goals that I am not going to do,fold em up and mail them to Patti for next year.

day 122..MNF..are you ready for some football?!

 I am pumped! I just got done grilling me up some fish and veggies, last night I grilled me up some steak and veggies, I think I am gonna change my name to Grill Master. I love George Foreman and now I am getting all excited about this epic battle that is about to take place...STEE'S and 49ers, wait holy crap, there is a power outage at Candlestick Park whoa!!! Ok, so I guess I will get ready for my conference call with my Decatur peeps, they are supposed to calling me Christine, Patti and Alicia, look like I won't have to pause the game for the call....this is nuts! Ok they are calling..chat later!

day 121..saturday...

Brandy came into town last night; she wanted to see my apartment with actual furniture in it and to have a girl’s night in. When she got here I decided we needed ice so I ran up to the gas station real quick. I am trying to pull out of the complex and this girl flags me down and wants me to roll down my window, she seems harmless enough, looks like a nice little white girl, so I roll down my window. She tells me she ran out of gas, and then tells me this long story about where she needs to go and that she has no money. But she does have this barely used Mariah Carey perfume that's “worth like $20 or $30” that she would like to offer me in exchange for a couple of bucks to fill her gas can. I thought it was a nice change from just flat out begging, she wants to barter instead. I felt bad for her, so I dug out my $2 I had in my wallet, told her to put her perfume away and if she wants to meet me up at the gas station down the street that I would fill up her gas can. She was so grateful and said she would go get it and meet there. I got up to the gas station waited for a few minutes, went inside, got my ice and told the guy behind the counter to put a few bucks on pump 2 for this random girl who is on her way up with a gas can. He then asked me asked me if the girl offered me perfume? If so she was in here yesterday trying to trade gas for perfume. Are you kidding me, I am such a sucker! I told him to still put the money in the pump just in case she showed up (cause I said I would). I never saw her walking as I made my way back and here I thought I was doing a good deed, instead I got hosed, now I wish I would have taken the bitch’s perfume. I woulda rather she said “hey girl, I just smoked my last Winston Light, can you hook me up with a couple bucks, it’s been a slow night and I’m a broke ass.” Don’t just make up a bunch of crap, whatever happened to the honest hookers?



Brandy and I had a good night we sat around looking at old pictures and chatting, it was a low key fun evening. We kicked it to the 90s, reminisced and laughed about the soap opera we call life, correction sit-com.



The status on my shower is this: I just took one and the hot water lasted the whole time at the expense of the water pressure being dialed way down. I guess I am not going to get everything I want out of a shower anymore. To be fair, the pressure was a little much, it kinda felt like a fire hose and had to check to see if I still had eyebrows after I would wash my face, so I guess I will just have to adjust accordingly.



Did my laundry today, the first time I use the "Clothing Care Center.”  First I had to go get a card from the office, then you put money on the card instead of quarters. I threw a $20 in the machine and asked the leasing lady how many loads I would get out of that…she was like “well its $1.25 per load so if you multiply by 20, you would get like 40 loads out of it”. wow. Holy smokes, thanks girl, I literally saw smoke coming out of her ears as she was calculating in her head, and why were we multiplying again? It wasn't as sketchy as I thought it was gonna be and it was quite efficient I might add. They have like 15 washers and dryers so I filled up four of them, came back, 30 minutes later filled up 4 dryers and wam bam, all finished! Most people have to wash their laundry one load at a time like a chumps…ha :)

I decided to visit my mailbox for the first time today and I also decided to let the post office know that I moved…again. I was really excited to find a hand written card from Sarah in my mail box, she sent me a card for no reason. The front of the card says "You're a beautiful friend who brightens my days" AWWW she took the time to put pen to paper, like in the olden days, and write some really nice things that got me all choked up. Thanks girl!

Ok I am gonna go cook something, as I now have groceries, the ketchup and mustard are no longer lonely.

121..what what

I had worst day, but not no mo! I have been chillin, watching the Ghetto Housewives of Atlanta on the reeecord  and talking to some of my girls from the ATL. Another video just surfaced... I am dancing to Ice Ice Baby....seriously... you secret Smart Phone users are killing me! I must be having a good time in ol Nashville...dancing and singing, singing and dancing and all. My girl Casey is coming up soon to go honky tonkin, I can't wait! Hey girl, miss you and our body pump classes! My ass misses them too! It has taken on a life of its own...me and Sheree from Real Housewives are neck and neck.

Ok can we just go over the fact that I still don't have a working shower?! Lets review: I have not been able to take over a 4 min and 53 sec shower since I moved in. I took 3 showers on Sunday just to get the job done (1 part face/body, one part hair and one part shave) I literally spent all day Sunday taking showers...wtf....that's not normal. They supposedly installed a new water heater yesterday, um I get up early all excited to take a nice long hot shower and after 3 minutes I am PISSED!!! I can't remember the last time I had time to even put conditioner in my hair! I mean I get the expression "you get what you pay for", but seriously, I think $40 a month for a water bill should include an F'ing shower!

Ok, I now have to go figure out how to iron my shirt without an iron or a dryer.

day 120...viral

Well I finally got my big break as a country singer...I am on freakin YouTube! The video of my duet with the service manager, Ben, is now on the internet and it may become viral...I had no idea there was even a video. Brandy saw it and is now suing me for her hospital bill after her ear drum ruptured and is now bleeding.

Last night I hung out with D. Mac, we had some Sushi. I went over to his place and we drove to the restaurant, he is not happy that he now has to open my door every time now since I broadcasted his chivalrous behavior to the world. I am now trying to think of what else I can mention that he has done that he has to keep doing...I will think on that for a minute. It was another evening of laughs and talking about nothing. He told me he had a plan and he hopes its working....I later asked him what that plan was, he said his plan was to just be nice and be all gentleman like and then I told him he was doing a great job. I guess that’s the thing that I am mentioning that he has to keep doing.
Mr. Avocado is to continue to be a gentleman and I will let him.

Today at work, kooky as usual, since our lovely felon receptionist got whisked away in cuffs, we have had to cover her duties; I was up in the rotation. I had to sit up front and be a receptionist. This also meant that I got to watch the entire office on the survaliece cameras, which is on her computer. I got to watch the 3 scandals (the girl Sam, and her 2 boys, one married, one not, the pee in the coffee guy is the married guy) The married guy was told to stay away from Sam during business hours, BUT today on camera I saw the three of them leave for lunch! Paul got into her truck, yes truck, and proceeded to duck down thinking that we was avoiding the cameras and they then followed the other guy out of the gate, what??? Where is the pee in the cup guy, the guy who drank pee and the girl who is sleeping with both of them going??? SCANDELOUS! And I then watched an empty plastic bag being carried by the wind all over the parking lot like on the movie "American Beauty", it was beautifully peaceful.

ok well that’s it for now I gotta go not do laundry and talk to my girl Nena!

day 119...post date

OK so I can't believe I am about to blog about a date with a boy who is going to read this...so jacked up. Now I can't say that I think he is so dreamy and dashing, so I am gonna just write what he told me to say...he is charming, good looking and something to do with sliced bread. I guess I can also add that we had a great time. First off, he picked me up and didn't kill me or stash me in the closet, 2nd, he opened the car door for me! (I really can't remember the last time that happened so I didn't know how to react, but I liked it). 3rd, we got along great, it was pretty effortless (not like some people who used to make me work my ass off just to have a 2 way conversation) I didn't feel like I was talking to a tree at all and that was nice. We laughed and had more conversations about nothing. I think he had a good time too because we are going out for Sushi tomorrow night. So to sum up, he looked like his pics, he was brutally honest at all times and is not afraid to call me out on anything, which makes me laugh and this is good in my book.

I am excited to see him again and I wish he weren't reading this,but I vowed that I would give selective, semi-full disclosure almost at all times.

I am exhausted! I have to go to bed and catch up on some sleep. OH but wait, I may need to mention that a guy at work (on the Servpro side) got in trouble today for peeing in another guys coffee. Um yes that's right, twice! It was all over a girl they both were trying to date at work.  This guy urinated in another guys coffee, admitted it and he didn't even get his ass beat. WTF, he didn't even get fired, just got a "talking to". Man I would of loved to be a fly on that wall during this convo. The owner of the company has to actually tell another grown-ass man that it is against company policy to pee in another dude's beverage and that his behavior, while frowned upon, is not subject to termination. So he didn't have to go home and tell his wife that he got fired for being disgusting and the reason behind it has to do with a spat over his mistress and his 5 kids will have Christmas after all. This place is kooky!

Day 118 lovin it!

I have so much to go over, but I want to start with the hammered lady running the dressing room at Marshells. She was WASTED! Before she would let me go in and try on some work clothes, she had to know my opinion on the outfit she picked out (I guess she put it together from the clothes people didn't want) I gave her my opinion and I then finally had to ask her again if I could go into the dressing room, she said yes. I was trying things on and listening to her ask every single person about this outfit. I ended going in and out of the dressing room 3 times and she asked me the same question 3 times, "Do you think these pants go with these pants?" Um yes I said...again. She was a nicely put together older lady, except she had a few buttons not buttoned on her shirt, she had no clue where she was...just staggering and stumbling around...its was sad and funny at the same time.

Anyway, I am now chillin on my COUCH!!! Not an air mattress!! What what! My lovely parents drove up all of my stuff yesterday, Kelly was here and 2 dudes from work stopped by to help with the heavy lifting. So I am all moved in and couldn't be happier! My parents drove 4 hours, dropped off my stuff and turned around and went home(thanks guys). WHAM BAM, I have stuff y'all!

Friday was a trip! We had our Christmas party at work, lots of food  and lots of laughs, its was nice to see the funny side of people. We sat around the table and ate honey baked ham, for some reason I felt the need to tell everyone that I used to work at Honey Baked Ham every Christmas during college and I was so good at slingin hams they named me the Hambassador (everyone was very impressed). Oh here is the best part, we had the Ugly Christmas sweater contest and they asked everyone to come on up to the front to get judged, they were like, come on up Stephanie! What?? I wasn't entering the contest! I just wore this sweater to work! Everyone was rolling laughing, haha hoho. We all went out after the party, this is the part where the fun people I was with earlier turned into a bunch of disgruntled employees. Everyone was mad and spent the next hour bitching about their Christmas bonuses being cut by 90%. I on the other hand was lovin life, I was in a great mood, I have been there for like 5 minutes and got a bonus. I also got a George Foreman grill and quesadilla maker out of the dirty Santa game. I was a happy girl. I did managed to get up on stage with Ben, the production manager and sing a duet (I was Allison Krauss and he was Kid Rock) we sang "Pictures" I was told I did great belting out the high notes, so I took that as a hint that the audience wanted more. For my encore performance I rapped Will Smith's Wild Wild West with another dude I work with. That went down in flames, its was terrible, I keep forgetting that I'm white.

I gotta go, me and D.Mac are hanging out tonight. He is picking me up and we are gonna go out for a bit. I told him I typically don't let strangers into my apartment, so I politely asked him to not cut me up into 1000 pieces and stash me in the closet. He said that wouldn't be a problem, he hasn't killed anyone in years, and he asked the same out of me, ok deal. I now have to go figure out what I am wearing, I have to look try and look cute, but not look like I am trying to look cute, just effortlessly striking.

I have to start now because I will have to take a few showers, my hot water runs out in about 4 minutes, so I guess I will have to take as many showers I need to get the job done. Wash my face and hair in one shower, let the water heat up again and in about an hour I can shave my legs...very efficient.

day 116...ok day

ok ok ok, I am in a holding pattern. WTF, the dudes came over to fix my toilet today and they clearly made some adjustments. Instead of it running constantly, it now runs in 3 second spurts every 3 seconds. Good job guys. I guess I will just have to fix it myself.

D. Mac called me home body, um guess what, hell yes I'm a homebody, and guess why? Typically when a homeless person gets a home, he or she would like to spend time taking in the fact that he or she is no longer homeless! My plan was to sit still for one week in my new home, just soak it up and chill, truth be told, I am done soakin, and I am getting a bit antsy.

Tomorrow we have our Christmas party at work from 4-6pm whoa ho hey hey gettin crazy..... The party don't stop til 6 in the evenin! But then the cool kids are going out downtown for a bit the after party and you never know, we may stay out until 8.

OMG that toilet is driving me BATTY!

Saturday... moving day the sequel...gonna get to see my folks one mo again as they so kindly bring me my bed, not that I am hatin on the air mattress, but covering up with a fitted sheet is getting sorta old.....it’s also gonna be cool to have one pot and one pan....it’s a bit challenging to cook eggs with no pan! Tomorrow's party includes an ugly Xmas sweater contest, I don't have a Xmas sweater but I will be wearing a sweater, I hope I don't win.

Ok I am about to go bust up this toilet.

day 117...hoho ho

I woke up extra early for my meeting, I am leaving in plenty of time and I can't find my keys! Shocker! Everyone knows I lose everything and I typically find what I am looking for in my trunk, well I know this is not the case this time because I let myself in the door, so I know they are here somewhere and I am cussing myself out for losing keys in a one bedroom apartment with no furniture!...well, I finally remembered that I put them in the freezer....I thought that it would be a good way to not forget my Lean Cuisines in the morning and bring them to work for lunch for the rest of the week....great plan! So I grabbed my cold ass keys and head off to my meeting. Meeting went well, except for the fact that they now added accountant to my job description...um hello, my math skills include counting fingers and toes, and this should be interesting.

I got to work and kinda snickered to myself when I passed by Rusty's desk (the marketing girl) I am her Secret Santa and I am in charge of giving her small gifts throughout December. Yesterday I gave her some bath stuff (crystals, fizzy stuff, candles, candle holder) and I didn't have anything to wrap it in, so I scrambled around and donated this green foofoo thing that I hold my TP in on my bathroom floor. It actually worked out perfectly except for the fact that it has spent the past few years holding my toilet paper on my bathroom floor and now it’s sitting on her desk holding Christmas presents from her secret Santa.

The highlight of my day was Brandy unexpectedly taking me out to lunch, she had a meeting in Nashville and made time to take her old ex-roomie out to lunch, and so I rescheduled my lunch with my flooring guy to Friday.

My uncle called my mom and told her that is bullshit that I don't talk to my cousin anymore and that I need to make up with her because they will be in TN visiting her for Christmas.....um I am not going to even comment on that right now....I am in an anxiety-free-zone at the moment.

D. Mac is cracking me up right now, as he is spittin some lyrics from Digital Underground via text, I am currently pretending to know every word of this song with the help of my ol pal google.com, I am pretty sure he is impressed. I honestly thought I was the only one who listened to DU... So just let me introduce myself, my name is Humpty, pronounced with an Umpty....

day 115

ok so I have gotten several texts and calls from you all wanting to know whats up with this dude not asking me out. Ok, here is whats up with whats goin down..Donnie Mac and I do talk and text everyday for hours and yes we haven't met yet. This is the only way I can describe it, we are building a foundation...I almost said that with a straight face...we are taking things SLOW. We both acknowledge that this is kooky, but I think we are perfectly okay with building it up and setting the bar so high that we will both be disappointed when we do finally meet. We can make each other laugh over the phone and text, we (I mean he) may be scared to take this relationship on to dry land. All I know is ,we are both single, we have had our dating hits and misses and we are just getting to know each other by talking about absolutely nothing. It may be the perfect way to start a relationship or we will just get bored and it will die down...whatever will be will be. I placed the ball in his court, he can pick it up and do whatever he wants to with it. Until then, I will laugh and go with the flow.

I now have to do some work, I am running our meeting tomorrow at 7am and I must prepare. I also have a lunch tomorrow with our new flooring guy, so I have to get ready for that too...good night

day 114

Not much to report, it was good day, I always consider it a good day when the police don't show up at my work and cart me off to the clink.... our receptionist was not so lucky. I guess no one told her that is not okay to charge $60K to someone else's credit card...oopsy, guess we will have to find someone else to answer the phones...I just hope she wasn't my secret santa...

SO I just got my computer to work, it will probably F up again in a minute so I better type fast. My place is quite cozy, the sound of the running toilet is soothing and the candle kinda covers up the motel smell...but I am not complaining about one thing, its all funny and all good, especially since it didn't take me 2.5 hours to get to work this morning. I am now watching this movie about a man in a boat who likes Chardonnay/white zin mix, its pretty funny. I really don't have anything to say right now, I am honestly just typing because I can, about an hour ago I couldn't and I threw a little tantrum.  I spent the last few hours fixing my computer and texting this one guy, he is now taking a bubble bath, so I am blogging about nothing. I think its time to watch more of this man in a boat movie. Good night!

day 113....camping out...in my living room

Ok, first and foremost, my dad is out of the hospital and he doing just fine, he had every test done imaginable and they couldn't find anything...again! So they are chalking it up to a migraine without the headache...whatever, he is healthy as a horse and that's all that matters.

2nd, I am in my new place!!! yee haw! I am now chillin on my air mattress waching TV and talking to all of you...I couldn't be happier. I don't even care that the sprayer on the sink is broken, the toilet runs constantly, the screen door fell off, the dishwasher is broken, the tub won't drain and I have popcorn with no microwave, all of that can be fixed. Oh and I am fairly certain there is hole under the carpet in my bedroom, well there is no bed in it, so for now its just a room.

Ok if I don't sound like myself its not my fault, its Ed Hardy, he found my blog and now I am trying to pretend he is not in the audience (hey Donnie). Seriously, you know how you sometimes have to pretend everyone in the audience is in their underwear so you will not be so nervous, that its supposed to help you relax and be yourself when you are on stage? Well I am just gonna have to pretend he is in his underwear. Its all my fault really, he said he was going to start calling me Gypsy and I got all paranoid that he already knew about my blog, so I freaked out and practically spelled out the link myself. He said he read all the posts that he was mentioned in and he just texted me saying he was disappointed that "his blog" wasn't updated yesterday, ha.  This is a first...I am literally writing in my diary about a boy that the boy is now reading, oh well at this rate we are never going to meet anyway, he is like scared to ask me out. :)

Ok before I go, I want to give a shout out to my good friend Stewart. Back in April, I was complaining about my job and my life in general, the fact that I felt like I was drowning in Atlanta, that I needed a change of scenery and I that I wanted to move to Nashville. Stewart then sat me down, gave me a pep talk, made me develop an action plan and then told me to execute the plan. He made me come up with a target move date (July) and follow through, just do it he said, there is nothing holding you back but yourself. That's exactly what I did, I moved to TN July 15th, and in 4 1/2 months, I got a job in my industry that I love, an apartment and I have never looked back. I love my decision and my new city. I am thankful for Stewart making me believe I can do what ever I want just by executing the plan. Thanks Stewart!

day 112 last night of being a nomad...sorta

Today has been a whirlwind of emotions. Woke up walking on air. Went to work and got a call, my dad is in the hospital. Ok, well ok, um  well of course I start crying.  My dad has had an episode of what could be a mini stroke. He has had these before and has been in the hospital twice before, dizziness, blurred vision, disoriented, grey, he goes to the hospital and they run every single test they could possibly run and they find nothing. He is as healthy as a horse, both times. Its crazy and frustrating that they can't find one single thing wrong with him, this morning it happened again. My brother calls to say dad is in the hospital and moving day is canceled. Ok well i am a wreck at work, I am worried sick and I am trying to figure out what to do. My dad is supposed to be co-signing for me because of my blemish and now I am conflicted, on how I am supposed to act. I am worried about my dad and feel selfish about worrying about how I am going to get this apartment and move my stuff. So hurdles hurdles everywhere. I decide to leave work early, I am a wreck so my boss tell me to go and its fine. I go straight to the leasing office (mind you I have called them 4 times today and every other day leading up until now). They are sick of me but I don't care. I sit down with the leasing agent. At one point today I consider forging my dads signature and sending it to a notary and having the lease over-nighted. I then find out that is next to impossible by tomorrow. So I sit down with the property manger and we work out a plan to let me pay yet another deposit instead of having a co-signer. It cost me a bunch of money and my soul, but somehow end up signing a lease and get my keys to my new place. wow. I have no idea what just happened, I am in a complete fog, but here I am with keys. So I leave and head out. I wanted to go to Atlanta to be with my family but my mom talked me out of it, saying Ryan was there and we can't even visit dad so not to come. I also thought about going there and renting a U-haul and grabbing my stuff but Brandy talked me out of that too, so I just went to her house. Today was filled with senerio after senerio racing through my brain.  I am a zombie, during the hour drive I spoke with my mom again, my uncle (my dads brother), left a message for my dad, who will be spending the night and possibly the whole weekend in the hospital for more tests and observation. I spoke with my dad earlier and I said  "boy you will do anything to get out of moving" he laughed and said you got that right. So here I am, I have a place and guess what, I am going to round up all of my belonging that I do have and move into my apartment, my furniture will get here when it gets here, not a big deal. For now, all I need is one air mattress, Brandy's TV that she claims she never watches from her bedroom and my clothes. That is all I need and its a good thing cause that is all I have :) I am excited to camp out in my own place, one more adventure. Brandy is putting together a starter kit for me, salt and pepper, a spatula, a fork , a butter knife and lots o sporks from Taco Bell. I am thankful for what I do have and that is a roof over my head. I can say one thing, I will never take for granted having anything ever. I am certifiably humbled in life. Bring it life! I am ready for any hurdle or hiccup you bring my way. Nothing is easy and that's the way it should be. By new apartment has power, a TV, cable, I have my laptop, and Brandy will provide me with sheets, pillow and blankets, that's all I need! My focus is praying that my dad will be ok and my mom will be ok and my brother will help hold the walls up. I know whats most important in life and that is family and friends and I will hang on to them until my knuckles turn from white to blue....cause without them and God, I am mush.

 So that was my day, Brandy and I just watched a movie and now I have to try to exhale and get ready to move my hot pink trunk that I still have from my dorm room. Lordy lordy

Day 111 2nd to the last day of being a nomad!

So Ed Hardy, ok I am going to start using his real name, Donnie Mac. So DM, told me he googled me, and then he had to get off the phone cause he was at work. Holy crap! Who is the heck knows whats he found out. So I googled myself, to see whats going on with Stephanie Baswell. I learned a lot about my self, I had completly forgotten that I won a Telly Award in college for producing, directing, editing a documentary about my 70-year-old friend Mary Jane Taft in college. She was in my ceramics class and she was so cool, her life was so interesting, I made a documentary and while I was getting to know her, I found out she was a friends of my parents! Who know? Crazy! She was the grand-daughter of President Taft, her mom was involved in the plot to kill Hitler and she had miniature horses, a documentary was in order!

I also found all the races that I ran, the marathon, the 1/2 marathon, a 10K, the 5k Fallen Hero's race I ran with Sarah and a few other random races. I found out that there is a Stephanie Baswell in MN and TX weird. and just basic info on High School (McEachern) and college (Reinhardt). So it was pretty cool to google myself, no mentions of court appearances or mugshots so all is good!

Day 110...homestretch!

Well...I am excited! I went and looked at my new place again, I love it! Its so much bigger than my apartment in Brookhaven. I got my power and my cable all squared away (the only two bills I will have to pay what what) My carpet is brown and my couch is chocolate, so some color must be thrown in the mix. I also got some potentially exciting news today. The manager of the Servpro knows that I am moving and pointed out that we have a lot of random pieces of furniture in the warehouse that the company now owns. Its stuff that wasn't salvageable when people had a flood or a fire, meaning their insurance gave them money to buy new stuff, so the old stuff (nice stuff), out of several houses, is just sitting, potentially up for grabs. I am going to talk to the owner and see what kind of deal I can work out on scoring a chest of drawers, end tables, and artwork...we'll see! Its just sitting there, might as well give it to me or sell it to me for like $5.

I told Ed Hardy I wrote a blog and that his name was mentioned a few times. He then called me mean when I told him he couldn't read it. I told him he would have to actually meet me in person and get to know me before I let him read it, its for his own safety. We don't want him to running for the hills just yet. He needs to get to know me before he realalizes that I do not have a clue where to place a comma. :)

day 110

waaaaaaaaaaaahoooooooooooooooo!!!!!! I got the green light!!! The apartment is mine! I move in on Saturday! wahoooo! This is good news in case anyone is wondering. I have been a nomad for 9 months and this is the home stretch to stability! I will now be able to stretch my legs out in 720 square feet of independence! Ok, next order of business, get some power, gas and cable...hopefully that does not equal another hurdle, if it does, I will either crawl over it or crush it, either way a light will be on the other side, a light I will gladly pay for. This also means I get to hang out with my family 2 weeks in a row as they so graciously haul my starter kit furnishings to me from Georgia and my 2 Tennessee sidekicks to complete my entourage, Brandy and Kelly. Yeehaw! once again I will say...NO WHAMMIES NO WHAMMIES!

I got this news as I while I was decorating the office for Christmas, I was skipping around and everyone thinks I just really love Christmas

day 109

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!ok ok, I am still waiting on pins and needles on whether I get into my apartment or not. I THINK i will find out tomorrow. Its pure agony. Apparently its a lot harder than I thought to get into an apartment these days. I feel like I am trying to get accepted into the penthouse suite on top of a New York fancy apartment building on the upper west side. I just don't get, I have provided everything but my soul. I had one unknown blemish on my record that just surfaced and was a product of sharing a lease in my past life and it has caused mucho stress. Many many hoops have stood in my way( which is weird because I thought you were supposed to jump through hoops, not let them stand in your way) to get this far and now I just wait. Tomorrow will be D-day and then I can start shopping for utilities (hopefully) Its a fire drill, I am supposed to move in Saturday and I have yet to have the green light to pull the trigger on a step that is 4 days away. I have decided against taking the pitt bull, I don't think i am ready to raise anything but myself, much less a dog that requires me to act like the grand master dog whisperer.

Work keeps me busy enough at least, today I began learning some software call Xactimate, that's how we write out estimates for the rebuilds. I learned how to draw a sketch of the condo that we are about to rebuild. I learned how to draw the dimensions and how to create each room using the measurements that the guys got in the field, its actually really cool. The past two weeks I have been learning to use Quickbooks, I can now write PO's, invoices and how to log in receipts. I love it! I am really interested in everything that I am learning and am excited everyday on what I can learn and then bring to the table.

I am still texting back and forth with Ed Hardy, he is still a crack up, we are actually texting right now and he just called me awkward. He says I say the most random shit. I told him that was sweet. and then he said I make him snicker. for the past two nights we texted for like 4 and 5 hours, he thinks it pitiful and he says he now texts more than his teenage daughter and its sad. The other night he asked if I was stalking him, I said no but I liked the shirt he had on, he said I wore it just for you. We are 100% sarcastic and I love it. I am in no hurry, one step at a time, baby steps.Awkwardness first.

Day 108 Sunday

ok so Thanksgiving is over, I survived a Thanksgiving with no preservatives, sugar, or processed food and  shots of not whiskey but vegetable pulp....mmmmmmm! (my mom literally came down to the gym in their basement and we all took shots of green pulp.) Ha, yes, my family has gone completely granola and my body was confused! But it’s a good way to live; maybe I will pick up some good habits from this experience. It was great spending time with my loonytoons family, I liked walking with my dad, training with my bro and laying with my mom in her bed, watching hours of Dexter re-runs, nothing like watching a guy chop a another guy into several pieces with a bone saw to keep a family close.

I left yesterday and met Brandy back here at the house and kicked backed and relaxed. I loved being off of work, it was the first time I have had a paid holiday in 2 years, so that was cool. Brandy and I were supposed to go to the Titans game but opted to not go sit in the rain and went and ate Mexican instead. We celebrated her birthday today; I made her French toast, ate Mexican and then watched 2 movies back to back, great day and all in all a great Thanksgiving break! Now I must get ready for the week and watch the Stees!!!! Lets go Steelers!

Thanksgiving!

I am at my parents house, it has been a great day! Had our turkey dinner, watched some football and just chilled. My brother Ryan, filled me in on his latest ventures, right now he is going to school, he is currently not happy with the fact that he has an A- in microbiology, I seriously question whether we are related. He wants the A+ and will not be satisfied until he gets it. He is an amazing personal trainer, he does most of his work at the YMCA, where he teaches TRX classes (suspension classes that he had designed himself) and works with different groups of people as their trainer. One of the groups he trains, he calls the Parkinson group, because well these two people have Parkinson's disease, and through research and studying he has developed a method to help these people have better movement in general and one of the things he focuses on is how to fall gracefully without hurting themselves. He says that its inevitable that will fall due to the fact the their brain can't quite catch up with the movement that they want to make (that is a very short lamen description) I got the extended scientific version with tons of $8 and $10 words flying at me as he tried to describe the concept of how this disease effects the brain, movement and speech. Did I mention my brother is a genius? literally. His mind is full of endless knowledge and it is seriously mind boggling.

My parents are doing great of course. The dogs, well, not so much. They have 2 Pitt bulls and well they have gotten into fights before and they were always broken up by my brother or my dad. But this time no one was around, they are pure bread pits who are very well behaved and trained but sometimes they can get a little rambunctious if they were not walked or exercised. My dad came home to find the dogs in a bloody mess. One of them has teeth marks all over her face and front legs, like her head was inside the other ones mouth like a blender and the other one has a the same marks and a chunk of its ear missing. Long story short Tyson and Evander had a re-match doggie style. This happened on Tuesday and neither one of the dogs have gotten up since I got here, they are either sleeping or literally licking their wounds. So here's an idea, separate them and I take Sky, the white one, to live with me in my apartment. She is the sweetest dog, very very people friendly I just wouldn't be able to bring her around any other dogs unless she has a muzzle on. She is the perfect age, 2, and she is fully trained, and no one will be messing with me, so I am gonna toss the idea around in my head over the next week. She will have some battle scars but she is still cute. I also like the idea of being forced to take at least one walk a day and knowing I have an attack dog watching my back when I sleep, will calm me down on being a freaker.

Anyhoo, I hope everyone is enjoying their time off...I know I am...Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

day 105 vacation

hey hey hey y'all! Today I feel much better, not because the problem is resolved, but because, what will be will be. (and my new Zack Brown CD helped, one of the songs says "I am gonna make this day a lil better than the last" and that is always my motto. I am now at Brandy's house, she is not here, but I stopped here for the night so I wouldn't have to drive over the mountain to my parents at night.

Good day at work, this is the first paid holiday I have have had in 2 years, so I am pumped to take a couple of days off. Work is good, I really enjoy my new team , our old manager is gone and we are gelling nicely. Lasts night drama still exists but I will not stress, I will go with the flow and know that the Lord will make it happen if its supposed to happen.

My girls are excepting me at work, I am being myself and they are complying with my behavior. I had Toni belly laughing today. She said she was going to Illinois tonight and I said "oh that's like 8 hours right?" she was like no its like 3 hours, I said "oh I forgot I was in Tennessee" she belly laughed and said that was the funniest thing she has ever heard and I walked away and listened to her laugh. Then all the girls had a drawing on who they would have for a Secret Santa, (I didn't read the whole email that they sent out..keep that in mind..).We all drew names and I (as a joke) said  "oh crap" when I read the name I drew. Then they started describing the rules, I was like wait, we have to give gifts until Christmas?? They said, " I feel sorry for the name Stephanie drew :)" So now I am on board I am gonna be the best Secret Santa ever. We are supposed to give little gifts like candy or cards until our party...I am in, who doesn't love a Snickers? Bottom line, the girls of the office are starting to get my sense of humor and its fun. Lori, my business manager asked what I was doing for Thanksgiving, just because she wanted to make sure I had somewhere to go, which was nice. I am loving my work people, they are actually pretty funny.

I am going to bed and I am excited to see my family tomorrow!

day 104

my life is about hurdles. jumping over them, one by one. I am faced with another hurdle and I don't feel like jumping, I feel like crawling over it, I am tired, I am tired of jumping. I feel blue and I just want one block of easy street, that is all I am asking. I don't really wanna talk about my new road block, I just want it to go away. I am strong, but right now I am tired. When does it stop? I honestly have not been stressed out since I moved to Tennessee. I have been rolling with it, going with the flow and trying to create a life for myself and feeling great about every step. But last night and tonight I feel discouraged. I know that I will get through it, like I get through everything. I know I am being a little dramatic, but this is how I feel. I don't want to disclose what happened, I just want to work through it and come back a stronger person. If what won't kill you makes you stronger were true, I am giving the Incredible Hulk an run for his money.

day 103 Sunday, the day of rest

I am so tired, from what I don't know. The only thing I did today was drop my deposit off along with my application. Everyone cross your fingers that everything goes smoothly with processing my application tomorrow...no whammies no whammies. Other than that, I was completely useless, I watched TV all day after Brandy filled our bellies with biscuits and gravy, she left, then Kelly ordered pizza, then made cookies. Oh and the sweetie that she is, washed, dried and folded my laundry that I slipped in her laundry basket. So, this was nice relaxing day and I am sure I gained at least 2 more lbs. Tomorrow I will figure out a way to work out...I am saying it right now, so I will be held accountable. I need structure and discipline on the fitness front or I am gonna have to buy all new clothes because I am seriously testing out the strength of the buttons on all of my pants. Ok I must go to bed, I need to mentally prepare myself to cram 5 days worth of work into 3 day and then head to my family's for Thanksgiving. Good night.

day 102 light at the end of the tunnel

Moving day is coming, everybody sing!!! Yesterday was an awesome day! Not only was it gorgeous out, we got a lot done! Brandy drove up from Manchester and met us at Kelly's house. I made a deal with them both who are "Twi-hards" (Twilight die hards) and all I have been hearing lately from both of them is they can't wait to see the Breaking Dawn movie. So I made a deal with them, y'all help me look for a place and I will go to this movie with y'all. They were all about it, but to be quite honest, I think that both of them would of helped me look for a place regardless, anything to get me the hell out of their house! ha no I know hey don't feel that way...but the time has come regardless! Now I have my entourage in tow, ready to pound the pavement, I had several places and appointments on the agenda. The first place was in Lil Mexico, the 2nd place was in Lil Harlem (yea we didn't even get out of the car for that one) then I showed them the place I had already looked at the day before and the day before that. They loved it, comparably speaking! They immediately felt at ease at this place, lets be clear, its not fabulous but fabulous in my price range. The girls noticed that there were nice cars in the parking lots and not a bunch of beaters and jalopies, that was a good sign, demographically speaking. We went into the leasing office and homegirl can't find the keys to the apartment that I wanted to show my entourage (AKA, first and second opinion) She never found the keys, it was a different girl than who I have been dealing with, so I think the other girl hid the keys so it would not be rented to someone else (she said she would hold it and did it by hiding the keys, brilliant) We went to model instead and both girls gave me the thumbs up on moving in here! My new place has 100 more square feet than my one bedroom in Atlanta and almost $300 less.  So I am going to bring in my application, application fee and deposit today!! WOOT WOOT! I am so excited!!! I am so glad the girls were there to help me make this decision, they both know the area and both said I will be safe there, so YAY! (thanks ladies) ITs on! December 3rd is moving day!! MY CLOUD NINE IS STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE!!

After that we grabbed a bite to eat and then went to the movies. We took the last 3 seats, this place was packed! The movie was pretty good considering I don't get into those types of movies or books for that matter. Then we came back to Kelly's to relax on the deck with a fire in the fire pit.We all get along rally well, so it was a good day. It was so nice out and we took advantage of this last non-cold November day.

Oh did I mention that Mike D lives in the complex....it will be nice to have a familiar face in my new hood and maybe he will take me out with his $300 referral fee he will get thanks to me....its all about workin the angles.

Ok gotta go, Brandy is cooking Biscuits and sausage gravy, yippee!

Day 102...loco

I talked to my Ed Hardy guy again last night. That's what he is in my phone and I will refer to him as such. He honestly cracks me up...I laugh more than I talk when we are on the phone....that is huge!! His voice and the way he talks still throws me off but I finally figured out who he sounds, its a combination of Earnest P Worrell and Joe Pesci. Last night I told him he sounded like an auctioneer from Chicago. He likes my random texts, so I was watching the movie "Horrible Bosses" tonight and the saying "batshit crazy" came up and so I texted him saying that I love that saying. I am at Aimee's, she is at work and said I could stay here. I spent the first hour  trying to figure out how to turn off the Closed Caption on her TV, so annoying, but I finally figured it out. So I still haven't gotten a response from Ed Hardy and I am thinking of texting him and telling him that text was not meant for him....or I may just let him think I am batshit crazy

day 101 baby steps and strangers

Ok, so I have led on to the fact that I am a bit superstitious and this week I have done a good job of forcing myself to undo a superstition that i have carried with me all of my adult life. Actually, it may have started as a kid, I can't remember, but most of my life, until this week, I always always always lift my feet when going over railroad road tracks. Its bad luck to keep your feet on the floor board when crossing them, driving or riding it doesn't matter. I think it turned into more of a habit than a superstition. I will go ahead and say for the last 20 years i have been doing this. BUT in Nashville there is a crap load of RR tracks and I literally work right next to some and have to kinda do a U-turn on them to get to my work. Trying to drive and steer over huge tracks while making a U-turn with my feet up was way too much eye-hand coordination early in the morning. I have to give it enough gas to take me over the tracks, but not too much where I go flying. So I have been working on putting my feet down all week and I gotta say it feels wrong, really really weird and liberating at the same time. I mean lets get real, lifting up my feet didn't exactly bring me a whole bunch of good luck over the years, so I figure this hootinanny way of thinking was nothing but habit that I must break. So I did, baby steps.

And now I just got freaked out via text. A few weeks ago,  I got a strange text from a number I didn't know with an Atlanta area code:

stranger: want to go Fogo De Choi at 1230pm on Thursday. I just confirmed with him.
me: sure! who is this?
stranger: wrong text

so I let it go...then again today...

stranger: search craiglist for office furniture. there is a good bit for sale
me: I don't care
stranger: about?
stranger: care about me?
me: sorry you have the wrong number
stranger: Do you live in Nashville?
me: yes, who is this?
stranger: and your cousin, lets talk about her, she must of pulled her groin and cant keep her legs closed
me. seriously u r freaking me out...who is this?
stranger:and your blog is amazing work, don't stop, we want more more more
stranger: you don't know me but I know you
me: well introduce yourself
( he sends me a pic and I cant figure it out what it is and he says its a clue) I study the pic and realize its a dog's balls
It took me about 2 minutes....
TD! I say
stranger: haha...who did you call?
me: no one i figured it out, who takes a picture of his dogs balls? weirdo
TD: whatever you recognized my dogs balls!
me: good point

(he was trying to text his friend Steffan)

That damn TD (aka burp in my mouth)....freaking me out! I just got done telling Allie to get a restraining order against a guy who is stalking her and then this happened...this is shortly after I thought an oven mitt on the living room floor was a rat. I may be a little on edge about something...not sure what...

day 100!! mile marker 100

ha, so I just got off the phone with a dude from POF...(I know Marybeth, I said I stopped with the online crap, but I got bored) So me and this guy have been emailing for awhile, he said I was the first girl he came across that didn't look all strung out waking up in an Ed Hardy T-shirt, so I went along with it. He was making me laugh...VERY RARE! So we moved the relationship to texting, I told him I wasn't ready for voice on voice action, so we have been texting, and he is still making me laugh. He finally asked if I was really a man since I wouldn't call him, so I did. Actually, I called him after he said he was cooking bacon naked, I told him that was a very bad idea, so I called to prove to him I wasn't a man and to check on his burn marks from the grease splatter. Turns out he was kidding and all was good. We talked for 40 minutes, well I laughed for about 20 because he was joking around with me like he known me for years. He said I was throwing him off with my voice, he said I don't sound like my picture, that I sound like a little kid from the north...um, ok whatever, I almost said "you sound like Earnest, you know what I mean Vern?" but I let that slide. I was my complete self, just saying whatever came to mind. He had me belly laughing a couple of times cause he was totally calling me out on a few things, anyway, it was good and refreshing. I have been called a yankee a few times in Tennessee and I get very upset, like I bow up on people who say I sound like a yankee. I get all defensive because it doesn't make any sense, I just caulk it up to the fact that these boys are so southern country that I sound northern to them....I guess that's what it is....I lived in GA for 26 years for Pete sakes!

Today was a good and long day at work, I am super busy and I love it. Rusty took me out to lunch and Kelly took me out to dinner, I love my friends! They all make sure I eat!

I was driving to work this morning and I pictured me moving into a place in a couple of weeks, it was the first time I saw a light at the end of the tunnel and it made me cry.....I think I might also be hormonal...nevertheless, I had a moment....and now I am going to bed with a smile...

day 99!!! tuesday

So Allie and I had a talk and we are gonna go our separate ways for now on the living situation. I told her if she wasn't ready to move in a couple of weeks that I needed to know, I don't want to stress either of us out . She agreed and gracefully bowed out with the promise that I would look for a 6 month lease so we could eventually live together. Um ok, we will see....if I had it my way, I wouldn't move for another 5 years, unless the man of my dreams wisked me away...so we shall see. I just texted Mike D and asked him where he lives, cause I know he lives in town, in my price range and he hasn't texted me back, maybe he is trying to figure out a way for us to live together instead :)

I was thinking about this past weekend and laughing, when Brandy, Stayce, Beth and me were together, we totally did the whole slumber party bit at the age of 34 plus. We braided each others hair, put make-up on each other and staged a pillow fight so we could get it on camera for Beth's husband...perv! ha! it was fun...the only thing we didn't do was prank call boys because everyone has caller ID on their phone.

Today was the first day that my boss took over Freds desk( he demoted himself and is now the Contruction Manager instead of the General Manager), it went well, I am pretty sure he misses is his office now that he sees how loud me and Paul are on the phone...Paul mostly...ha

I am gotta get to sleep cause I have a 7am meeting and I am pumped about living by myself agian...holla ATL firends! I will soon have an air matress with your name on it!

day 98....gitty

Mike D asked to be my friend on FB! Yes, he saw me the other day and now he can't stop thinking about me, I knew it! :) I mean, lets start connecting the dots here....me and him got hired together at Margaritaville, I bowed out and so did he, he was following me to my next job and since he couldn't follow me to my big girl job, he stayed at Blackstone. And now is seeking me out, its only a matter of time until I receive a box of chocolates from a secret admirer on my car...I can't wait.

I went to see a cute little house today. The lady who owns it was so nice, she was a little wacky but super nice( she kinda reminded me of my mom I am not gonna lie). She asked when I could move in and I said tomorrow, she just chuckled. Then later she saw the clothes in the back of my car and she said oh you really do wanna move in tomorrow, ha! Well yes that would be nice. Allie and I are going to see it again Wednesday. I like it, but I don't know if she will like it. I am now getting a little nervous that Allie is not going to be financially ready to move when I am...I don't know that for sure, but waiting tables is so unpredictable and I am sorta having anxiety over it. She mentioned that she is broke right now, not something I want to hear when I am prepared to move in two weeks. I do want to live with Allie, but maybe I should explore my options (one bedrooms) just in case. You never know, I am trying to hold onto the words of Brandy :"Whatever will be will be" I also need to not ignore my pre-anxiety and what the future holds in that respect.

I am really getting into my job, I really do like it.. BUT Fred was fired today, he was my sarcastic touch stone and now my boss Ryan is taking over Fred's position. So things are about to get serious really fast, it should be a good move, I am looking forward to the challenge of switching gears so early in the game.

I am at Kelly's right now, waiting in her to get home, I watched last weeks Grey's a minute ago, that was a good one...nail biter!

Oh I have been given the green light on spilling the beans on Sarah's good news. She got a FAT FAT new job, a job where she can work from home wherever she wants, giving her the opportunity to move back to Pittsburgh to be with her family. She has been secretly wanting to figure out a way to be close with her family and now she has the chance, so I am very happy for her! Go girl!

My dad says that I better find a place soon, I am running out of ways to make jokes about my living situation and he is right, I need some new material! Meaning, stability, an actual mailing address, the post office is so confused, they have no idea where to send my mail. So new material is on its way!! And then I can give a long awaited shout out to one of my very good friends....but not until I am settled....(you know who you are)

day 97

Yesterday was awesome! Beth, Stayce, Brandy and I had a freakin blast! I was a perfect fall day, we started it off with Brandy making her famous bacon, egg, cheese, and cream cheese bagels. Then we decided that we needed to have a pre-game bonfire, tailgating country style! We drove the car into the back yard, cranked up some music, got out the camping chairs and set up camp out by the cow pasture. Brandy built one hell of a fire that we kept going all day. We burned an entire tree up, a Bradford pear that Dug had cut up a few weeks ago. Then we came inside to watch the Georgia game, we are all GA fans so it was so much fun watching them whoop up on the Auburn Tigers, it was is was a massacre, we killed them, it was awsome, now we just need to keep up this streak and do the same thing to Kentucky next week. Then we grilled some burgers and hada delicious dinner. This morning Beth and Stayce left and were excited that they were gonna see there names in the blog, ha that cracks me up. All in all, it was a great time as we celebrated Brandy birthday a little early, that was her pre-birthday party. Happy pre-birthday the sequel girl (Brandy has been thinking all along that she was already 35, so she gets to be 35 all over again, so actually she gained a whole year...its so stupid its brilliant)

Today me and Brandy have made a good run at eating everything not nailed down and watching re-runs of Dexter. So I must get back to doing that......

day 96..girls in town!

I am going to bed after a fun night of hanging with my friends from college, my sorority sisters, Beth and Stayce. Its so awesome to see two friends that you haven't seen in a year and you can just jump into conversation like u just saw them yesterday, I think that is the true definition of a friendship, u can start a conversation from a year ago and not skip a beat...these are your true friends...hold on, Stayce just got up, she cant sleep...I will return tomorrow.

day 95 mouse drama~

OMG I can't even go into my day right now. I just went through a traumatic experience! I just witnessed a mouse in the house! The cat was playing with a mouse in the living room! I watched it take the mouse it its mouth, spit it out, bat it around and repeat! I called Brandy and Sarah during this moment of crisis and Brandy asked if I was being held at gun point and Sarah asked if I had gotten in a car accident...so I guess I was being a little dramatic, but hello, I am watching a game of cat and mouse in the living room and I did not enjoy! So long story short, I sacked up, got some Tupperware and trapped the mouse, grabbed a broom, a dust pan and swept it into the pan, ran outside and threw it into the driveway. SHEE-RA! the master of the universe! Why am I always dealing with mice drama?! Brandy thinks I should just accept the fact that field mice are alive and well and will show up in your home ready or not...um ok, well I don't accept that.

Anyway, my presentation didn't happen,  I was all ready and was never called to the stage, long story short, it was postponed. Whatever, my day was too busy to worry about it, busy in a good way, I am now learning  enough to be productively busy and that feels good.

Sarah got some good news, but wait, I shouldn't reveal it, I didn't get the green light...I need to check that out just in case..

I am now busy texting a cute boy from POF, my last attempt at online dating...he is my age, with a 15-year-old child..you do the math...but he is actually funny...he said he has never spent this much time talking to a homeless person and he had served them dinner at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving..ha!

I do wanna give a shout out to my friend Clare from college. She has always been a my fav of mine, she is hilarious and totally a bag of laidbackfun. She sent me a sweet message yesterday on FB, she said I made living out of a car and eating out of a bag sound appealing and I should just keep on keepin on! I love that, I will girl! Love you, see you at the next reunion!

ok I have to go clean, Kelly will be home tomorrow...

day 94...CMAs!

Today was good....after work Allie and I walked around downtown Nashville watching everyone pour into the Bridgestone for CMA's. We just wanted to soak up some atmosphere...we went to the Red Carpet and all we saw were some no names stragglers...we did see this one blond march down the red carpet all alone with her head down, didn't know who she was until I just saw her on TV, Erin Andrews! She was presenting, maybe she was holding her head down in case she had another stalker in the crowd. So now I am watching the CMA's and Blake Shelton just won! Its seems like only yesterday when I was cleaning the salt shakers just to get a good look at him. I love country music...I can't wait to get settled in the city and really explore what this city has to offer...first stop..Country Music Hall of Fame. Hank Williams has something goin on there that I must see. Still on the search for the perfect spot and I cannot wait!

Oh I cut through the alley behind Blackstone and saw all of my old homies standing out back smoking....Mike D, Max, Jenny, Justin and Maggie....it was good to see them, I do miss them..they all hugged me....they are a good group of people. The last time I talked to Mike D was when I was badgering him via text when the Steelers beat his hometown team...the Pats. He was not amused.  Ha! He is still super cute regardless.

ok, must go to bed, I have my presentation in the morning....wish me luck...should be interesting.

Day 93...great day

What a great day! It started out with a meeting I had with the owner of the company. He gave me an assignment to put together a way to train the office people on the Servpro side (the side of the company that deals with the remediation) he wants me to train the girls who answer the phone when floods or fire happen, train them on hardwoods and other flooring. Long story short, he loved the outline and reasearch I prepared and wants me to do a presentation to during their meeting on Thursday. I get to bring in visuals and train other people about the construction side Then the meeting turned into how we can expand my role in the company. I was in there for 2 hours..it went very very well.

Then I picked up Allie from Margaritaville so we can house hunt and then go to church. Downtown was bumpin! The CMA's are tomorrow, so there are all kinds of tour buses everywhere and famous people lurking about. This country band "Lil Big Town" played at Allie's work during the day today and Jason Aldean made a surprise appearance and Big River Tavern! Can you imagine, sitting around eating your lunch and Jason Aldean appears and puts on an impromptu concert! How awesome! I saw Ellen's Swag Bus or whatever...I guess Ellen DeGeneres is here. So tomorrow, after work, Allie and I are gonna walk around downtown and soak up some atmosphere and stake out famous people, I am so excited!

Church was good. I learned that God gives us pain so we will invite him in our lives to help us cope with whatever pain we are dealing with. I already knew, trust me, I could of taught this sermon :)  I just got done telling Sarah this very thing. Her mom had a cancer scare and I tried to comfort her by saying that God gives us bad situations in our lives so will turn to Him, he is no sneaky :) Oh and Sarah's mom is going to be just fine, thank you Lord.

The two houses that we looked at were no Bueno, one was right next to the freeway and not functional and the other one, well um, there was a sofa on the front porch and since I am not Sanford and she is not my Son, it simply won't work out.

Today while I was leaving work, I was walking out with Rusty, I tell her to hold on cause i have to go get my dinner out of the fridge, its in my cooler. I come skipping up with my cooler on my shoulder and she says, I kinda feel bad for you...."why?" I ask. Because you LIVE out of your car and EAT out of a bag, I look at her and say "At least I'm LIVIN and EATIN! It could be much much worse"...she smiles and looks at me and says, that's true, you go girl.

Day 92 Monday

So my laptop miraculously repaired itself! yay! I turned it on for the 5th time to see what would happen and it turned on! I guess it just needed a break, I get it. I am glad the break is over, welcome back laptop.

I am sick sick sick over the heartbreaking loss of the Steeler game against stupid Baltimore last night. It was the best game I've seen in a really long time, it was a freakin battle! Back and forth back and forth and not one dull moment. With only SECONDS left in the game, this torpedo came out of nowhere straight into the endzone from their dumb quarterback and we lost. sucks, Ben did such a good job too, we should of won and we should be leading our division! But life goes on and so does the season.

Work was good, but I am finding out everyday just how ADD i really am, I have got to figure out a way to get it under control. I have shiny ball syndrome and it needs to stop!

I just got done telling Elisabeth that I may not be able to afford to be a bridesmaid in her wedding because of my current status in life. She was so cool about it, she said to play it by ear because its not until May, oh ok, I thought it was in March, and then she made me put it in my calendar, so I wouldn't show up in March :) She said as long as I show up on the day of the wedding, all will be good. Thanks for understanding girl you are awesome! Her fiance has like 12 groomsmen and she has like 5, so I won't be throwing off the balance or anything, but I will play it by ear. I would love to stand up for her and Jim, but I don't want to be a dead-beat bridesmaid either, so we shall see.

Day 91..Let's go steelers!

I am sitting here all alone watching this insane game Stees/Ravens....what a battle! They hate each other...its pretty much kill or be killed!

Had a nice weekend in the country...gorgeous fall weather! Got all of my preparations prepared for the week. Cleaned out my car (AKA laundry room) from the week, washed all of my clothes and promptly hung them up in my car. Packed my suitcase, shopped at Wal-Mart for my feeding times, got all of my meals squared away for the next 5 days. I am not eating carbs this week, I must jump start my metabolism, I have gained 10 1bs in two months...NO BUENO! Operation "Not Get fat" has been a big fat fail thus far. So I made edd salad, tuna salad, browned some ground turkey and packed it all away in their own individual freezer bags, packed up salad stuff, nuts and cheese in the cooler and I am set. I am not excited about this new eating plan, but its the price I must pay for eating a truck load of Halloween candy and pizza this past week.

My friends Amber's kid, Hunter cracks me up! I just had to throw that out there. Every time Amber posts something that he said on FB, I literally LOL. Kids say the darndest things, Brandy's come up with some doozys too. Ho hum, one day I will be posting my kids comments, one day :)

Well, it was dark as midnight by 530pm since the time changed ,so right now it feels like 2am, I think I am gonna go lay down and watch the rest of this game...night!

day 90...oopsy

The only reason I am blogging about this is because Brandy said if I didn't, she would put it on Facebook.

Me and Brandy's convo about football:

Brandy: I like the Bears
Me: Why?
Brandy: Because my Grandpa liked the Bears because back in the day Indiana didn't have a team and now they do
Me: Indiana doesn't have a team...
Brandy: Um yes they do, the Colts
Me: They are not from Indiana
Brandy: YES they are the Indianapolis Colts, where do you think they come from???
Me: I don't know but not Indiana
Brandy: They are the INDIANApolis Colts!!! Again, where do you think Indianapolis is????
Me: I don't know I never really thought about it
Brandy: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
Me: LOL sorry I never thought about it
Brandy: INDIANApolis!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
Me: Whatever LOL LOL LOL

Ok so that makes sense and I am a retard. we are not discussing it anymore.

day 89 in the country

I am at my country home, I so love coming here on the weekends, its my home. I think I may even come here when I get a place (hey brandy you are never getting rid of me).  I had a good day at work...getting to know the folks and my day to day stuff more and more everyday and I really love it. Brandy and I watched the movie "Crazy Stupid Love" with Ryan Gosling, hubba hubba, so so so hot. It was cute, exactly what I wanted to do tonight. Now I am going to bed for at least 12 hours, fingers crossed. We watch Real House Wives of Beverly Hills, it was so annoying we turned it off, they were having a spa day and were fighting, who does that? Then we tried New Jersey House Wives Reunion, turned that off too, I guess we will try the Atlanta House Wives tomorrow hopefully they won't disappoint. Ok so not much to report. I can't decide if its a good idea to talk about my work folks yet, don't know who is watching, so for now, I love them all, hey y'all! I am going to bed, good night.

day 88...loco

So some drama went down at work this morning! At around 3am, some thugs broke into our gated parking lot and broke into 4 Servpro trucks and stole 2 of them! They were used to drive straight into a Shell Station with the intent of stealing an ATM machine... great plan guys, brilliant! While they did manage to level the candy aisle with the Green Servpro Truck after it plowed through the window/wall and busting up all kinds of chips, they somehow couldn't manage to sneak away with the ATM machine, shocking. Oh but they did get some cash out of the register, well worth it, well done. We have the truck heist caught on our surveillance cameras, its quite freaky to watch it all go down as they cut the chain on the gate, pry it open, creep through the parking lot and watch trucks disappear into the night. Don't know if they did caught the guys yet, but the story was on Channel 5 news in Nashville.

Then the power went out, twice, for no reason, so all in all, work was a little twighlightzonish.

After work, Allie and I went house hunting! We found the area that we want to live in, Germantown,(naturally, since we are both German) its a lil quaint trendy part of downtown, reminded me a lot of the Virginia Highlands. So now its our job to find a hidden gem in our price range. So exciting!

Now I am at Aimee, chillin with the all the bitches, sadiegracielucycooper...time to relax and watch some Grey's Anatomy...night!

day 87...the parents

SO I came home to the country for the night. I needed a home cooked meal. Or "gross" pasta hardening on Brandy's stove that she wouldn't eat, but I found it less gross and ate it, not great, but less gross and well, free of charge.

My mom, emailed me a country song that she wrote to my dad about my dad and I really feel the need to share this hidden talent that she has kept from the world all these years. She would like for me to get someone in Nashville to record it for her by Christmas. lol.

Here is goes:

Lovin' Jerry is like lassoing the wind.
Ain't no tellin' where that boy's been.
But I'll tell you what and it ain't no lie,
I'll be with him 'til the day I die.


YAY! go mom, love it, I tell you what, the Baswell talents just keep sproutin up out of the dirt like potatoes.

Well my mom felt inspired, they just celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary this past month and I have been meaning to dedicate a blog to them, but couldn't sit still long enough to get the right words out, so what better time then now.

My mom, Karen, and my dad, Jerry, are the two most loving, caring, funny, simple, kooky, parents that ever lived. They brought me and my brother, Ryan, up in their own specific way and for that I thank them. They made their own rules, they made their own timeline, they paved a way for my brother and I to become ourselves on our own terms, mostly by trial and error, but nonetheless, this curvy path allowed us to become strong, spirited individuals (who can't spell a lick). They nurtured our creative nature and encouraged us to make our lives something to be proud of. My mom and dad wanted nothing more than to guide us, to teach us to let God guide us and to give us the tools to become who we are today. Thank you mom and dad.
They have been through many many many many obstacles as a couple and have survived them all, one way or another. A couple who prays together stays together. A couple who laughs together stays together. A couple who trusts together stays together. I will always follow their lead and live one day at a time in the simplest way I know how. Happy 39th Year of not killing each other, I love you.

day 86....its been too long!

hey hey hey! I have been on hiatus due to the fact that I still don't have a laptop. I honestly feel sorta depressed, I think that it really is therapy when I tell everyone how my day went, I now see what a difference it makes to not blog. This is my tunnel to my world, I know that everyone is just a phone call away, but this is my outlet during my transition into my new life in Middle Tennessee...my new efficient way of communication to all of my favorite people. and if you are reading this, you are my favorite.

Last weekend, I had a fun time in Atlanta, but I realized that it takes a toll on me to pop in and out of town over a weekend. The next time I come in town, it will have to be over Thanksgiving. Then, I can spend a few days instead of a day and a half and I can spend it with my family, I miss them!!!(not that it wasn't a joy to see a few of my closest amigos....thanks to Kelly for driving and to MB for putting me up and to rest...xoxoxoxox, Christine made me take a shower before I went to bed, we put black hair dye in our hair because we were devil's....it was a tribute to Josh's band, they were all Devils and they played at the Halloween party. Patty was dressed as a good sport....:)

Kelly and I drove back Sunday and I managed to watch the Steelers beat the Patriots, that was awesome!! That's never any easy task for any team, so go Stees! I spent last night at Aimee's while she was out of town. SO, here it is, Halloween and I am by myself, which was fine, but the night was a long night. I went to sleep early, took some Excedrin PM and went to bed. Well, as most people know, I am a freaker, I can easily freak myself out when I am home alone, especially when I am not at my own home. I was having some weird dreams and I woke up to one of Aimee's cats staring at me in the bed!!! I woke up on Halloween night with two green cat eye's in my face!!! I started screaming and had to come downstairs and watch TV to shake it off. Then I got the nerve to go back upstairs to go back to sleep. Guess what, I had nightmares the rest of the night, I came downstairs two more times to chase the bad guys in my head away. For those who sleep through the night, don't take it for granted....just sayin....

Ok good night....oh wait, GO DAWGS!! they beat Florida, finally!....needless to say...we don't miss Tebow :)

Day 85 GO DAWGS!

Got off work and drove straight to Atlanta last night. Kelly picked me up from work and we got her bout 1030pm. Today is Marybeth's Worlds Smallest Cocktail party for the GA/FLA game. I have been going to this party for the past 6 or 7 or 8 years, can't remember.  I will try to write later, but right now I have to get in the shower. GO DAWGS!!!

day 84 thursday

going to bed....a girl named rusty asked me to lunch. I got in her car and realized I still had my ear piece in from my desk...oopsy. I am now going to bed

day 86 and 87

I couldn't blog last night because I stayed with Allie and did not have Internet access. SO I am now catching up....I have one piece of good news that stands out....I GOT MY CAR PAYMENT REDUCED!! yay!!! All I had to do was tell them, look I can't afford this payment, I make half as much as I did when I bought the car, therefore I need my car payment to be half the amount, and they gave me as close as they could and I am dancing on the ceiling! It went from $448 to $277!! They just extended my loan, woo hoo, now I can afford rent! My next step is to reduce my health insurance so I can afford gas and then reduce my cell phone so I can afford food....details details....I am on my way!

I went to church last night with Allie. Yes, on Tuesday night, it was supposedly a service that this Baptist church runs on the side that was described to me as my old "Buckhead church", so naturally I was in, I so miss Buckhead church, I mean who doesn't miss a live rock band/ comedy club AKA church. I loved it, it was a place I could go and sing my heart out, because the words were on the screen like a karaoke bar, but at this karaoke church I was most likely crying during 2 out of 3 songs....they were so awesomely moving and to listen to hundreds of others singing with you was beyond moving. There was a couple of times I was crying so hard, people were wondering who the unstable girl was sitting by herself....um yep that was me. So this experience was sorta like it, it was a beginners level of Buckhead Church, it was more like a class than a sermon. The dude had an eraser board behind him and read straight from the Bible, at first I didn't think he was all that, because Andy Stanly is so charismatic and funny and really gets through to everyone, even the people who zone out for a few minutes, he reiterates his message in a way that you still get it, even if you start thinking about what you are going to have for dinner on um Thursday. But, I did take away his message regardless....he said that he often feels angry because he feels out of control, and then Ged chimes in, if you feel out of control, than that would imply that your were once in control and guess what? you are not in control, I am. God is in control, you are not, let Him lead and stop being angry for no reason. Let go and Let God.  That's what I got out of it and I really did enjoy it, I will be back next Tuesday.

So today, I went running in the park after work. It was awesome, gorgeous weather and just went running like I used to (2 months ago) I was jammin out to my MP3 player and Prince's "Gett Off" came on, I was running and off course forgot that no one could hear this music except for me and just had to blurt out my fav part "I like em fat, I like em proud, ya gotta have a motha for me now move your big ass round this way so I can work on that zippa baby" and this bigger lady was standing on the other side of these bushes as I passed by, oooh boy she gave me a look! I just kept running and laughing, I can't believe that just happened, actually I can, its me however....sorry girl, I was just singing! Oh and I would like to give a shout out to Beth Browning, every time I hear that song I think of you!!! Can't wait until you and Stayce come and visit on November 11th! Brandy and I are saving y'all a seat on patio 457! (hey Nena and Amber, if you are reading this, maybe y'all should come too...just saying....

(yes I did go from church talk to Prince speak in one sitting, but I did have two days to make up for)