Have you ever bruised someone's ear lobe?

Some of my co-workers and I were having a conversation about… well I started a conversation about Matt and I wrestling yesterday. We were just goofing off and freshening up my yellow belt when he had me down and I was trying to retaliate. I know he hates when I grab is ear lobe because he is always afraid that his ear skin will rip. So I grabbed both of them and he grabbed under my arms and we were both applying pressure until one of us give in. Well I don’t remember who finally give up but later in the evening we sat down to eat dinner and I looked at Matt’s ear lobes and noticed something on the bottom. I thought it was stain from the deck but no, no it was bruises on each ear lobe. I felt so bad; I apologized, since we usually don’t end up with evidence of wrestle mania. Well my co-workers laughed at this story and swore that normal people do not wrestle with their spouses. I guess it is just a Mississippi girl thing.

Fun from Cathryn

Post your particularly amusing names in the comments. C'mon! Fun for all!

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car):
Sky 4-Runner (not feeling I will sell many records with that name)

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe):
Chocolate Flip-Flop (Ohhh girl dont get me to snappin my fingers and shakin my head at you)

3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal):
Pink Meercat

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born):
Rose New Albany

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name):Roe Ke or Gib Ke (I'm both right now until the parperwork is done.)

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink):
Teal Sweet Tea (and yes she will kick some ass.)

7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers):
James Hubert or Hubert James?

8. STRIPPER NAME (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy):
Divine Sweet Tart (Yes I am well known in these parts)

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter):
Cooper Charleston

10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower):
Summer Orchid (Yes that is sooo pretty)

11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now):
Mango Sweater

12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree):
Teddy Graham Spruce (Dont judge my breakfast choice)

HOUSE FOR SALE OR RENT

Calling in a miracle

I have been so scared for the last few weeks since Matt got orders to move to Norfolk, VA in August. I go from excited, to frightened, to mad, to numb.

I told my partners at work last Wednesday that my last day would be July 24th which was a months notice. Two of them have talked to me about it and three of them have said nothing. They are so weird when it comes to people leaving even if they cannot control why they are leaving. No wonder they have trouble with people leaving.

My moms are both trying to talk me into staying in Nashville until the house sells and Matt to stay on the ship. Fear is telling me to consider this but my heart is telling me that I should trust my husband. I always listen to my heart no matter how scared I may be my heart always wins and has never wronged me. The only thing is my mom is typically right too.
So I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get everything ready for the move. Matt and I have an extensive list and no matter how much I work on it the damn thing keeps getting longer.

1. Finish sanding and staining the deck along with building the steps.
2. Finish painting the basement along with spackling, sanding, and painting the ceiling.
3. Buy and put up trim with money we don’t have for the basement since previous owners used Styrofoam trim and yes that product actually exists.
4. Finish painting half bath and touching up bedroom and bathroom.
5. Trimming out hallway paint.
6. Just one more coat of white on all doors.
7. Just one more coat of white on all ceilings.
8. Hang new curtain rods in bedroom and dressing room.
9. Clean up garage so someone can walk in it.
10. Put alternator in Matt’s car or sell it like it is which requires Craigslist which requires the internet which we don’t have and I have tried on my phone and no it wont work.
11. When parents come we must cut up tree that fell and get them to take tree and trailer with them.
12. Get parents to help move old fridge down to the basement or sell it on Craigslist (see comment above)
13. Paint exterior CMU wall to match house.
14. Weed front flower bed and plant flowers we cannot afford.
15. Call pest control to come kill all our moths, spiders, ants, earwigs, etc so the movers will pack our stuff.
16. Orchestrate movers for 2 days while they mark and pack all of our stuff.
17. Pack clothes and supplies enough to survive on for 6 months while our things are in storage. Things live interview outfits, winter clothes, air mattress, etc.
18. Take Sparx to vet for rabies shot.
19. Go to dentist before I leave so I am good for 6 months.
20. Take wedding rings to jeweler for repairs before we leave.
21. Find a job which requires I create a portfolio of my work at TMP.
22. Sell our house which requires we finish it so we can show it and have an open house.


This list is just the things I can remember off the top of my head that wont stay off my mind long enough for me to do my job and all this must be done by July 24th since we are driving to Virginia July 25th. After July 25th a whole new list will develop with things such as find an apartment and start my new job.

We basically need a miracle….

Housework

Well Matt and I have been working really hard trying to finish up current projects.
We worked on the deck all day Saturday and then again on Tuesday night when we put the last board on. Yes we still have work to do on the deck such at buying the toppers for the posts and put them on, building some sort of stair, sanding and staining so that all the wood matches but in general it is done and we can store things in the benches and actually sit on them if we want.

This weekend we are going to get some help from a guy that works with Matt and we are going to try and finish the basement. We have to finish scrapping the popcorn off the ceiling and patching the ceiling then we will have to sand the ceiling. Next we will paint all the walls a light ice blue and paint one wall with chalkboard paint. Last we will paint the ceiling a dark gray. So basically I will be covered in paint all weekend.

I had my first tennis match in the summer league last Wednesday night. I was sort of nervous since it was my first match in the 3.5 league. One of my friends talked me into moving up with her and I don’t know why I listened to her. I anticipated I would loose every match by a lot and then move back down to the safe 3.0 league. Well I did loose my first match but not by much 4-6, 4-6 so it was very close the whole time. Last night I had my second match and guess what? I won 6-4, 6-4, so I guess I play better when I am playing a better opponent.

High School friends

Matt and I took yet another trip this past weekend back home to Mississippi to go to the wedding of one of my high school friends. We were friends in high school and college. This weekend made me thankful that I am not in high school anymore.

Some of our other classmates were there in support of the bride and some in support of the groom whom graduated two years ahead of the bride and me. Some of these people didn’t recognize me and some of them still have not grown up. I always have to try really hard at keeping the conversation going with some of these people. Matt said they were not so bad but seeing how they talk about people and how rude they are reminds me why I was not in that particular click growing up.

I like real people who like to laugh, see the good in every situation and who enjoy seeing and getting together with people they have not seen in a while. The bride and I are a lot alike but some of the friends that she has kept after high school are totally different. Thankfully the bride had her “new” friends at the wedding as well and they were good people like us, people who stay and chat with family after the wedding to just catch up and laugh about the good old times. Times when we were young and doing stupid stuff.

I remember high school being a popularity contest and me not wanting to join in at all. I hated all of the who’s better than who and who has what car and all that hoopla. I was friends with everyone; yes I had my closest friends and I mostly hung out with them but never do I think I made someone feel less than me. I had hoped all of us would grow up but I guess some are still playing the expensive car better than you game.

I should be used to it because now I have to watch as my co-workers play the same game but with bonuses and kiss-assing.



It really wasn’t so bad I am just recalling the parts that annoyed me. It was nice to see all those people again even though some of them haven’t changed. The wedding and reception were beautiful but hot. We had a really good time and an especially great time after everyone left. Some of her close family and friends hung around to clean up and we ended up breaking out some wine and just reminiscing about the bride. The reminiscing was more or less behind her back since she and the groom had already left for the night but I don’t think she would mind.

Family Vay-Kay

Well let’s see, I have been pretty busy at work and trying to keep busy so I don’t get in trouble since my review is coming up and I am hoping to not get fired. We will see tomorrow if I still have a job or if I should put my resume in at Lowes.

Last weekend Matt, the dogs and I drove down to Mobile to see his family and to meet my family at Gulf Shores. So we plan on leaving Thursday night after work but Matt says that his boss wants him to check in Friday morning at 6:30 to just take roll and leave. So Thursday afternoon we are getting the lawn mowed and packing clothes for the trip. Matt decides to rotate his tires since we are taking his truck. He takes off the back tire and it looked like one of those racing tires that are smooth with no tread. I said, I am not riding to mobile on those tires. So Friday morning Matt got up to go to work and I got up to go get him new tires. After the tires we packed up all the x-wife’s stuff and all of our stuff in the truck and we were off.

We get to Mobile around dinner time and we had hamburgers on the grill and just relaxed that night. We got up Saturday morning to go to the Monastery to get my grandmother a St. Petagrine necklace. Matt’s mom had bought his dad one when he had cancer and she suggested I get one for my grandma so I did. I also got some fudge called heavenly hash that was made by the nuns. Anytime you mix pecans, chocolate and marshmallows you will have a hit with me.

We got done just in time to have lunch at our favorite shopping mall Mexican restaurant in Mobile. My mom, dad, sis, brother-in-law, and nephew had just got in town from Mississippi and they met us there. My brother-in-law ordered Chili Relleno without the red sauce because he doesn’t like tomatoes or tomato sauce. Julie had something and I think she was going to complain about it but my mom was sitting next to her so she did ok at this particular meal.

So after we filled our stomach’s full of delicious Chili’s stuffed with Mexican cheese we all met at Matt’s parent’s house. Matt’s mom and dad give them a tour of the house explaining past additions, current projects, and antique hand-me-downs. Then we all went outside for an afternoon siesta in the swing. Dorie and Prancer (Liz’s dog) entertained themselves with a plastic water bottle eventually to the point where we thought they would pass out from heat stroke and the bottle had to be taken away for a water break. We talked until Julie was ready to go either because of Matt’s pipe smoke, mosquitoes, or the spider web that was in the chain of the swing or all of the above.

The next day we were to all meet at Gulf Shoes beach for fun in the sun. So we got up to begin coating ourselves down with sunscreen and hunting beach umbrellas, coolers, chairs, snacks, sunglasses, chap stick, towels, etc. After a few stops on the way we arrive around noon when my family had been there about 2 hours already. So we set up and take pictures, play in the waves, attempt to fly kites, hear complaints about jellies. Around 2:30 we are all hungry so we decide to walk to the nearby Pink Pony club and get some food. My mom and Julie are to stop by and wash their feet at the outdoor showers and then meet us there. Some of the men and Easton are to stay behind and hold down the fort and we are to bring them food back.

We walk over, order drinks, order food and wait for food and still no mom or Julie. We are worried and make phone calls and still no mom or Julie. We meaning I am about to walk up the beach to check on mom and Julie when they all walk into the club. Mom, Julie, dad, Brad, and Easton come in and get a table. They meaning Julie had had enough of the beach for the day and packed up all their shit and then came to get something to eat. We finish our food with them and then take back food for Matt’s parents who are holding down the fort.

My family goes back to their hotel to try and wash off the sunburn that they all got at the beach. We stay a little longer at the beach relaxing and sunning. Marty decides early on this day that she was going to put on accelerator before she came to the beach and put on afro sheen at the beach to get burnt to a crisp and guess what her planned worked. I wanted to spend some time with my family so we met them at the hotel to decide what to do next. Matt and I tried to get Liz to take them back home so we could go do something with my family but I guess they were not quite ready to leave the beach. We went to this family fun place that had bumper boats, putt-putt, and race cars. Matt’s parents are not really the type to do this sort of thing despite the sunburn and sandy pants so Marty went to the truck and slept while Randy watched us ride.

We rode this two story wood race track called “Wild Wood” first and yes we all had fun joking about the name of the track. At the very end of the race I was making a move on my sister and Easton when we all went around a curve and I had Matt on one side and Brad on the other, the next thing I knew I was facing the wrong direction and stuck on the track. Knowing me I read all the disclaimers, no bumping, keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle, if you do get stuck on the track stay in your car. So I did. I would press the gas and go about 2 inches and hit the side then roll back 2 inches and of course they did not put a reverse in the cars which would have solved my problem. No, no I had to wait and watch everyone get off and finally one of the workers came to get me.

We all had a good time watching people ride the “Sky Coaster”. It is a thrill ride where you and up to two friends are harnessed together, lifted 100 feet in the air and let go to coast over the fun park. Matt and I did this at Six Flags when we first me and loved it but no one in our family was up to it.

It was time for us to go since Easton was cranky, Marty was asleep in the car, and we were out of tickets. We drove the hour back to Mobile while my family went out to dinner. When we got home we watched Juno with Liz and Marty got her a shower, a benedryl and she was out for the count.

The last day of our “vacation” we had to drive the hour back south to Gulf Shores to meet with my family and get our pictures taken on the beach. My mom had told me she wanted a picture of us all wearing white button down shirts and “jorts”. Well Matt doesn’t have any “jorts” and they don’t make white button up shirts big enough for Brad so she had to settle for Matt wearing blue jeans on the beach in 100 degree weather and Brad, Julie, and Easton in white t-shirts. Despite this I think the pictures turned out well.

Before we went to the beach we at lunch of course. Earlier that morning we were told that they wanted to do breakfast at Cracker Barrel upon which Matt says, “well we just won’t eat and we will leave early and go to Lambert’s on our way back”. Another phone call tells us just what Matt wanted to hear, “we are going to Lambert’s, the place where they throw the rolls. Yea.

Matt talked me into getting frog legs so he could try them. He got a whole skillet of ham. Julie got mashed potatoes and gravy which she sent back to get without gravy because the gravy had onions. Mom and dad split beef liver and onions. Brad got meatloaf and Easton ate a roll and got a green and it had to be green balloon. We all had a good time and got some tricks played on us. The waitress brought a gag pitcher of sweet tea and pretended to spill it on my dad’s white button up shirt and he almost jumped on top of me to try and get out of the way. My mom got offered a pot of stuffed road kill and Easton opened a candy box with a mouse in it.

We said our goodbyes and drove the hour back to Mobile to pack our things and drive 6.5 more hours home. We were tired, not sunburned thankfully, but tired of being torn by two families and annoyed by their particularities.

We got home Monday night to go to work Tuesday morning and to go out of town again the following weekend. What a vacation we had.

The not so new News

I have not blogged in a long time because I have been busy at work and not able to get on the internet. When I was blogging more often it was because I was doing casework for 4 weeks straight and I got bored. This gave me more time to blog but got me in big trouble. Now I am busy and not complaining even though I don’t get to blog as much. I would blog from home but our internet hasn’t worked in a while.

Matt's Strawberry Pott

So Socal and I are very busy in the yard with multiple projects going on right now. We are trying to finish up the deck benches, planting tons of trees that Socal got off the Arbor Day foundation website, mowing grass a constant chore, tilling up the front flower beds, mulching the front beds, and putting down border around the front beds.

ACE presentation table

Members of our ACE team this year

ACE scholarship winners from our team

Tuesday of this week Cafra, another ACE mentor, and myself drove to one of our High Schools because they were being featured on Channel 4’s Cool School segment this week. They ask us all a question and we wasted 2 hours waiting on the reporter and driving to and fro to find out that they cut us out of the segment. How could they? Where do they get the nerve to cut me out of their news.

Yesterday everyone in my office packed up and drove downtown to one of our projects. It is a small renovation at Baptist hospital for the NICU. The project manager and interior designer from our firm did a great job on the design but it is giving the contractor fits. The hospital is huge and has a goal of 8,000 births for 2008 which sounds like a baby factory to me.

After that a few of us toured a site in East Nashville called 5th and Main. It is a housing development with underground parking, retail, town homes, condos, and a pretty price tag. They are selling for $250 a square foot… WOW…

After we all were drooling over the spacious condo’s the Young Architects Forum members that toured the residential site went to Three Crow Bar and had our first drink on a rep. that works for Ally-Cassidy Brick and Block.

Socal and I are planning a trip with my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew to Gulf Shores in May. Socal and I are going to stay with his family in Mobile to save money and drive to Gulf Shores to have fun on the beach with both families since it is only about 30 minutes drive I think.

This weekend we are going to go to this Tequila bar called Agave to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. They are having live Luca Libre Wrestling with Midgets and Mini Wrestlers.
For the next 2 weeks I will be attending Structures classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights to help me pass my exams. I have been going over the program that I will be using to take the Site Planning test just to get used to all the buttons and commands.

Spring in TN

Just some pics of my car ride home. I tried to capture the tunnel of white blooms that the Bradford Pears create. The city trims the trees over the road and they begin to form a perfect tunnel.

These are a few images that I took yesterday while waiting for my $44 in gas to pump into my car. I noticed this sign because the wind was blowing pretty hard and the sign kept rotating so it was fun to try and time it just right to get the word liquor in the picture. It makes me want a drink too. Mmmm.

I took these pictures on my way home. I saw this little dog in the back of this car and just had to take it's picture. I just laughed looking at it, it is one of those so ugly it is cute dogs. This dog made my day in the middle of rush hour traffic I was stopping trying to take it's picture so I could keep that happy feeling it gave me.