Winning in Memphis

I took a half-day vacation this past Friday to spend Veteran's Day with my dad. We decided to take a family trip to Memphis once I reached Cleveland so that we could go watch my best friend, Cacy, play basketball. We played basketball together since we were 10, and I am so proud that she now starts for a Division 1 team. I knew we were destined to be the best of friends as soon as I realized we both wanted to be the number 22. The girl has got good taste, it really is the best.It turns out we weren't her only supporters. Her family that lives in Memphis came, too. If only they had asked me to join them. I would have gladly been an exclamation point.

The Saturday in between her two games, my family drove to Tunica, MS. Gambling with my parents is one of my favorite things. We always have the best time-win or lose. I even ran into an old friend from high school there. More importantly, however, I hit a straight flush fifteen minutes before we had to leave. Yep, this girl left $1,000 richer.

I'm sure the dealers and gamblers from that day are still slightly deaf from the shrieks and laughter coming from me and my mom. What do I plan to do with my money?



Buy these sheets that are made from vintage love letters. Everyone at work has already called me a grandma for spending my money on sheets. It's fine, I'm okay with that because I'll be a grandma sleeping on awesome sheets :)

Mormon is the Word

I went to visit my best friend Jenny in Layton, Utah last week. We had the best time. You know you're close with someone when you can stay in and just watch Dawson's Creek and talk until four in the morning, repeatedly, and think it was the best vacation. We did manage to get out of her apartment a couple of times--we had to go buy cookie dough. :) Juuuust kidding, we got out for other things, too.
I learned several things while I journeyed out west. First, Mormons really aren't that different from the Bible Belt Christians I've been around. Yeah right. I met this cool guy on the plane (well, cool until he sketchily asked for a ride...) that was a Mormon living in Salt Lake. He explained it all to me. Apparently they can't have caffeine, drink alcohol, use protection, etc., etc., etc. He was under the impression Southern Christians live this way. Puhlease.

Second, Paranormal Activity 3 is a crock. The entire movie I kept expecting to be terrified. When two girls can go home alone and stay up for hours without "hearing" or "seeing" something freaky after seeing a scary movie, it's not a very good. We did take a picture there as proof that we did venture out of our pajamas and her apartment.

People in Utah also go to Halloween parties, shop at Kroger (even though they call it Smith's), eat sushi, and will return a smile.

Utah got awfully lucky when Jenny Barbee became a resident. I'm awfully lucky to have her as a friend.

PS: I finally figured out how to add more than one photo to a post. It's a little link that says, "Add More Photos." Who knew?!

Try is the Worst Word

Try seems like it would be a positive word. It seems like a word that begins with motivation. In reality, try is an early excuse.

As the manager over a crucial, detailed, and lengthy project, I have been hearing the word "try" far too often. It doesn't matter that I send out reminder emails starting a month in advance. The week of, there are still going to be those people who will try to complete the task. I just want to shake them and say, "No, no, there is no trying. There is only doing, so get it done."

It's a good lesson for me, I suppose. I now realize that, although I do not say "I'll try" when it comes to interactions with others, I certainly say it to myself. That is just as bad. No more trying to make it to the gym at least three times a week or trying to cook more often. This girl is going to do.

Pinterest Mania

I found the mother of all social outlets available on the web. Pinterest. I have always loved to peruse the internet for good ideas on decorating, entertaining, fashion, etc. Now I love it even more! Essentially you create virtual bulletin boards. Gone are the days when you have to send your email address hundreds of links for recipes, gift ideas, and the like. Gone are the days when you have to mark something as a "favorite."

All you do is click "pin" on any photo on the internet, and it is immediately captured under the board you select. This means in ten years if I want to make the Nutella Crack Cake under the board titled "Sweet Tooth," I only have to click the picture and it takes me directly back to the original page that has the recipe.

Not to mention you can follow other Pinterest users or friends, comment on and "like" others' pins, and even repin others' pins as your own! It's amazing. Beware though, it's completely addictive.

Modern-Day Walden Pond

I have always loved having my own space to think, dream, read, etc. As a child, my dad would often scold me for "isolating" myself. I suppose he didn't want me to become some weird, anti-social outcast. As I have grown up, I have managed to hide or dismiss most of my anti-social tendencies.

Now I simply have an outlet. Once I moved into my new apartment, I decided I did not want cable or internet. I also have "technology-free" weekends where I even turn my phone off. I do always make time to call my parents though, as they tend to worry. I like to think of this year as my modern-day Walden Pond. Each day after work, I come home to either music, reading, running, journaling, or a combination of them all.

After almost two months of this, I would like to say I have found some profound knowledge or discovery, similar to Thoreau. I can't say that I have. The only thing I've discovered is that after experiencing solitude, you realize more than ever who you want to be there when you don't want to be alone.

Here's to a year of solitude, retrospect, and growing up with complete independence and the ability to do whatever it is I may want to do in my little third-floor apartment--other than watch tv or surf the internet. We'll see how I handle this come basketball season when I cannot watch my beloved blue devils play.

People Haven't Always Been There For Me but Music Always Has

I love this quote ^ from Taylor Swift. It's so true. Despite how many times people let me down, these songs never do:

1. Up on the Roof-The Drifters. Despite never having access to a roof, I feel I could have written this.
2. Can't Hurry Love- The Supremes. Such a shower singin' song.
3. The House that Built Me- Miranda Lambert. This will be the first song I learn to play on the guitar.
4. Sweet Baby James- James Taylor. James Taylor never lets me down, but I especially love this one because he wrote it for his nephew. Boy, do I understand that.
5. Don't Think Twice-Bob Dylan. He's always good. This one, though, has a special place in my heart and is absolutely never skipped on my iPod.
6. Home- Michael Bublé. I am so thankful I live close enough that home is never too far away for a visit.
7. One Fine Day- The Chiffons. Never fails to get me moving and bring back memories of lip-sync performances and riding to school with my dad.
8.Secret Garden- Bruce Springsteen. I especially love this with clips from Jerry Maguire.
9. Catch My Disease- Ben Lee. Best loud with the windows down.
10. Living for the Night- George Strait. King George should have a spot on every list.

I hope when you're disappointed by people, work, etc., you also have good music to get you through.

Minus the Costumes, This is My Life

Before moving into my new place, I told myself I would try to meet as many people as possible and wouldn't refuse any invitations because, I have learned, networking really does make all the difference.

Since I moved in, I have only seen one girl outside for long enough to strike up a conversation. I complimented her purse (it was this awesome Dooney & Bourke) because who doesn't like a compliment? As it turns out, this girl either didn't care for them, or for me one. She scoffed at me, tucked the purse tighter under her arm, and walked away. Strike one.

Since then, I have made six new friends. All under the age of 9. I met two siblings, Naila and Cole, because Naila stomped up to fuss at me for parking at the opening of the stairs. It's where she and Cole ride their skooters. As soon as I told her that wasn't my car, we became fast friends. For the next couple of days, they would wait on me when I got home from work and occasionally come up to my apartment.

At the beginning of the following week, I got a knock on my door just as I sat down for dinner. I peeped through, and seeing six kids, thought they must be selling something. Cole then popped his head up and said, "Miss Keely, I told them you were really cool and would let us come in your apartment!" Before I could even respond, they all charged into my living room. After watching A Cinderella Story (because they deemed that something we would all enjoy. Evidently my Friend's episode was not.), drinking all of the Yoo-Hoo's my mom bought for moving day, and telling me all about their favorite subjects, friends, and sports, they finally went home.

I'm still working on meeting people my own age, but as long as I keep Yoo-Hoo's in the fridge, at least I'll keep my adolescent friends. Here's to growing up.