Oh, duh.  What I need is a chamber maid, to come in the morning and open the blinds for me and leave me clean clothes and tea and toast with butter and marmalade and maybe a hardboiled egg.  I guess if I had a chamber maid I could also have a house with east facing windows on the water or on a mountain somewhere that blinds were not necessary.  Then I wouldn’t need my chambermaid, but breakfast would be pleasant.  Then I might bounce out of bed at 6:30. 

Alas, I was languishing in bed at 7:45 this morning, thinking about what I would wear today.  And I checked the weather, 71 degrees, 84% humidity.  This sounds like an improvement over 78 degrees with 97% humidity, but I wasn’t entirely convinced it was a significant improvement.  The fact that it is September 30th means nothing as far as what kind of weather could be expected. 

Have you ever wondered what the UPS guy does all day?  Because when you want a package to arrive at your house by a certain time, and you track it, it seems like regardless of anything else, the UPS man never gets to your house til after 5 pm, regardless of where you live, even though the UPS.com tracker told you he left the warehouse at 8 am this morning.  Well, apparently he is delivering packagings, because I got a delivery I’d been waiting on at 1:45 this afternoon!  It is like the UPS man knew i needed the package before 5.  Or else it’s friday and he just wanted to go ahead and get rid of all the boxes so he could go home. 

Why do I need this package before 5 pm?  Because I’m going to Augusta today for Britt’s 30th Birthday!  HOORAY!  Happy Birthday Britt!  Yay 30!

I have to admit, my 30th year so far has been pretty spectacular, and I feel sure Britt’s 30th year will be equally amazing!

Happy Friday, take time this weekend and smell the tea olives, and when it gets cold tonight, or tomorrow night, and you shiver in your tank top, remember that is finally the best month of the year, OCTOBER!  Just typing it makes me happy.  I’m going to go dig up some fingerless gloves with skulls and crossbones on them.

I’ve been getting some awesome blog love from Betsy and Molly, my sweet Atlanta friends who I never get to see.  But I was lucky enough to see BOTH of them this past week.  It’s amazing how long you can go without catching up with the important people in your life.  Actually, it’s amazing how fast time goes by and how quickly life seems to happen.

Speaking of which, I’m really happy that the time changed last weekend and the daylight last an hour longer every day from now on until the fall.  I love spring, and I love summer, and I’m excited.  Also, I’m starting a new job on Monday!  It’s time for new beginnings, and I’m ready for a new challenge.  Until Monday, I’m working on getting my life put together and cleaning my house for the Masters!  Did you hear that Tiger is going to make it this year?  I don’t know how I feel about it – it’s going to bring a lot more hype to the week, which can be fun, but it can also make everything more difficult for us local people.  But the golf traffic signs are up and the flowers are starting to bloom!

First the red buds were blooming, then the Japanese magnolias and now the Carolina jasmine and the blue star onion flowers have started to bloom and it’s only going to get better from here!

Soon the cherries and the dogwood and the azaleas and wisteria and the whole world will be covered in flowers and everything will smell wonderful!  I can’t wait.

Of course, all this talk of warm weather and flowers blooming ignores the reality of pollen and allergies and bugs.  After playing tennis outside last night in Waynesboro I was violently reminded of the reality of pollen and bugs.  I think the flowers and the pretty weather are worth it.

Happy Tuesday!

So last week I decided to pick a handful of camellias and bring them home to my house and put them in the sweet little vases I have slowly collected over the years of deb and bridesmaid gifts that sit on the window sill above my kitchen sink.  The problem is that this idea occurred to me when I was already out in the backyard, and I was too lazy to go get the garden sheers and cut my camellia flowers.  So I just went ahead and picked them.  Some of them broke off easily.  Some of them didn’t work out so well and I was left with a sad bald flower with no petals. 

But that didn’t stop me.  I picked a bunch of really pretty camellias and was so happy when I got them home.  They looked so happy and friendly in the vases that seemed to be completely intended just for them (and gardenias). 

Ohhh, but remember how one of the best things about this sweet little flower is that their petals fall off.  And the flowers I picked were no exception.  I found sweet little flower petals EVERYWHERE!  In my car.  On my front walk.  On my front porch.  Smashed into my seagrass rug.  In my dog’s hair.  Stuck to my kitchen floor.  In my pocketbook.  And let’s go ahead and be clear that my window sill was COVERED by the petals in a matter of hours. 

Another thing that has been falling recently is pine straw.  I LOVE new pine straw.  The red kind.  I’m not sure I can even come up with anything else that is the same color.  It is a totally different color once it lays on the ground for a few days.  Deeper, darker, brighter, better.  I like it when it drops from the real high pine trees and sticks in the grass straight up, like the dark red pine straw just sprouted up all over the yard.  Of course, I really like the pine straw because I’ve never actually had a pine tree in my own yard, and it’s much easier to love the pine straw when it isn’t sprouting up in your own yard. 

I’ve been watching the first season of Ally McBeal on dvd.  It makes me laugh.  I never watched the show when it was on television, and I’m so glad, because it’s so much more relative to my life now than it ever could have been then.  There is something about the show that makes me feel better about my own life.  I also love that most all of the characters are on other television shows today. 

I’ve been having a case of the mondays, where everything seemed a little off.  My coffee wasn’t strong enough, my favorite pen ran out of ink, I hit my elbow on the door frame, it got dark too early, my knee hurt while I was running,  nothing serious, nothing real upsetting, but just enough to make me remember that it is monday. 

I’ve been neglecting this blog, for some reason I just haven’t had the drive to put much of anything on paper.  I go through these spells where I have SO MUCH TO SAY, and I take the time to write it down.  But recently I just haven’t gotten around to writing it down.   I still have things to say.  I think of things to blog about all day long.  It is kind of like exercising, you know you will feel better if you do it, and you think about doing it, but it’s so easy to not have the energy to actually do it. 

I’ve always thought of this blog as a sort of bank account of my thoughts, every word I write here increases my investment.  I went to church last night for the first time in a while.  I don’t like to go to church by myself, and I don’t like to go real early in the morning and these two excuses help me to rationalize why I don’t go to church as much as I wish I did.  In Andy’s sermon he talked about how we should have a spiritual bank account in the same way we have a 401(k) or an IRA or a savings account.  I like this idea, it’s something I’m going to think about.  I wonder if spiritual bank accounts have penalties if you make a withdrawal too early.  I hope not.  I might need to make a withdrawal on a seconds notice.  Maybe it’s not something you are suppose to make a withdrawal at all, like an IRA that you were never allowed to withdraw without a penalty, because it will always be worth more to you later than it does now, compound interest and whatnot. 

I don’t know, I’m just thinking.  On a lighter note, I’ve eaten so much left over Halloween candy it is disgusting.  I ate so many nerds and sweet tarts last week my poor little tongue was ripped to shreds.  I’m addicted to mini kit kats and I’ve finished off the last of the strawberry laffy taffy.  It has been a good November so far.

But I will be in Athens tomorrow!  Libby is flying in tonight and we are hitching a ride with Kate and Trav.  I think they will probably drop us off on North Campus with our little coolers so we can go find our friends and meet back up with them later.  Hopefully we can stop for boiled peanuts on 78.  Trav is normally agreeable to such diversions. 

I have been trying to figure out what Briscoe should be for Halloween.  She doesn’t seem to care right now, but I know when the time comes she’s going to be upset if she doesn’t have an awesome costume. 

I was driving back from Waynesboro the other day and there was a Bud Lite truck in front of me, and there was a sticker on the back of it, like where it might say – IF YOU CAN’T SEE MY MIRRORS I CAN’T SEE YOU! – except, this sticker said – HONK AND I’LL PULL OVER.  And it made me think, huh, like, if I’m feeling like a case of bud lite while I’m cruising down the highway, can I just honk and the truck will pull over and hook me up?  It is the best case scenario and the only one I wish to consider for the purpose of such a sticker. 

I’m really happy that it is Friday.  I’m going to now push my personal opinions on you. 

I love the new Spearhead cd, it makes me happy.  I think Lie To Me is the best show currently on television.  Target has great paper towels.  

I’ve been thinking about time zones and earthquakes and how I need to mow my lawn.  Hopefully these will be later posts.  I feel sad for Chicago and the death of Roberta the chickenreally upset me yesterday.  I told my mom about Roberta and she got mad at me and told me not to tell her such depressing things.    Bizzy told me about it.  I told mama it wasn’t my fault Bizzy spread such horrible stories.  Speaking of Bizzy, I’m going to DC next weekend!  Hooray!  I haven’t been to DC in years and years. 

Susan Elizabeth came in town last night and we went to Luigi’s and ate our little hearts out and drank some red wine.  We told lots of secrets and talked about the past and the future and work.  It was awesome.  Then we came home and ate pound cake and drew on the refrigerator and laughed.  Briscoe was really happy.

I went to sleep early on Monday night, and Briscoe was upstairs with me.  Bo and Bella were downstairs in the kitchen.  All the sudden I hear a CRASH!  It sounded like the baby gate we use to keep the dogs in the kitchen had fallen down.  This happens on occassion and isn’t a big deal, since the dogs are deathy afraid of the gate and won’t climb over it.  The concerning part, was that there continued to be crashing and noise from downstairs.  Not in the kitchen.  When meant, something other than the two dogs I’d left downstairs was presently enjoying the classic decor of the living room. 

I called Travers, he said he’d be right there.  I called Matt, cause he was in the cottage, and he came over to help.  Briscoe was freaking out.  She ran into the living room and I watched in horror as she chased a squirrel up the plaster wall and onto the window scounce. 

Can you see his arm and leg?

Matt got close to the window, and the damn thing fell, bounced on his back on the table, leapt onto the piano, almost knocked over every breakable object in the house before hiding behind the china cabinet.  Smart animal.  Too heavy to move, too fragile to try. 

The dogs were so traumatized.  I had to physically carry Bella into the house and drag her into the kitchen.  She knew the squirrel was still there.  She knew.  Well, two days later, after chewing through a couple of electrical and cable cords, setting the alarm off and otherwise terrorizing the dogs, I came downstairs yesterday morning to find a dead squirrel on the rug in the living room.  Sweet.  Dead things.  Well, we all know I can’t pick up the squirrel or go near it, since the last time I tried to pick up a dead squirrel he wasn’t dead and bit me. 

The dogs had had enough of me forcing them to hang out inside with a squirrel, and flat refused to come inside yesterday morning, so I left them outside.  I put water under the house and made sure they couldn’t get out anywhere.  And I found the biggest spider I’ve ever seen.  I freaked out, got in touch with Josh (Josh is a professor and has his phd in forestry bugs – I saw his dissertation, the man knows his bugs), and anxiously awaited his instructions.  Josh said she won’t hurt me, that it’s what they call a banana spider, they are quite common and spin really pretty webs which they use to catch beetles (read – roaches) and mosquitoes.  He further recommended that I grab a few beetles and throw them in her nest, because she will attack them and spin them into a cocoon before she eats them and that it is “neat” to watch (his words, not mine).  Sweet.  It really made me miss him.  I told Josh I appreciated his expert opinion but that I would not be throwing any beetles anywhere.  I am really pumped that she eats mosquitoes and roaches, so I’ve decided to keep her as a pet.  I’ve named her Hermione and she has been watching the dogs for me while I’ve been at work.  She is the size of my fist and I swear I can lean on her web without it breaking.  It’s like fishing line. 

My life is so national geographic.   

Other happening of note, we had a successful last minute cook out last night, with lots of tomatoes, cheese, beer, hamburgers, chicken, and french fries.  It was a victory of effortless entertaining, low stress, high enjoyment, everyone left happy and full.   Thanks to Kate and Trav for going out of town. 

I have woken up the past few mornings to a chill in the air, which has made my coffee taste better and my over all personal happiness level improve.  My imagination immediately transports me to a morning where I am getting ready to get into a car to drive to Athens for a football game, instead of driving to the office.  Of course in that scenario I would be drinking a cold beer instead of hot coffee. 

But you know what today is don’t you?  GAME DAY!  I want everyone to be watching football tonight.  I hope that everyone has been watching the HBO series Hard Knocks, which is a reality show about the Cincinnati Bengal’s training camp.  I get really sad when anyone gets cut, it’s so depressing for the players to be woken up at 5 am and sent home.  But I really really really love Chad Ocho Cinco.  Love.  Child Please.  I could say it all day long.  Child.  Please.  child.  PLEASE.  child…please.  CHILD please. 

And I know I’m never suppose to say such a thing, but I’m going to say this once and only once.  This is for Ike and Peter and Matt and Claire and Darius (I love your music Darius).  Ahem.  Um.  Give me a second.  Deep Breathes.  DEEP.  Okay.  Here goes.  go cocks!

And it’s all I can do to not pull over on the side of the road in my heels and get the round up I bought at Lowes two weeks ago and never took out of the back of my car and teach that overgrown invasive species a lesson in chemical warfare. 

My mind is a battle field.

* I put 4 feet earlier but then I drove by it again at lunch, and it’s definitely 5 feet tall.

 I’d really like to have an old bathtub to use as a planter.  That way I don’t have to worry about Briscoe trying to eat the jalapeno plant I bought.  Donald is suppose to be keeping his eyes open for one.  Maybe it will be there when I get home!  Donald made me a list of things I need for the house on the back of a KoolMenthal carton box.  I’ve been carrying it around in my pocketbook and it almost fell out in court today, which made me laugh. 

I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever had spring fever this bad.  This might be due to the fact that I’ve never had a real job in April before.  The real world is for the birds.  That being said, I do love my job and it is nice to feel (somewhat) financially secure. 

That being said, every day I’m amazed at how weird my job can be.  I spent an hour this morning respectfully but forcefully disagreeing with someone.  I told them all the reasons why they are wrong.  Then I shut up and didn’t interrupt while they told me all the reasons why I was wrong.  Then I told them my reasons again, then they told me their reasons.  Then we pointed at some documents and underlined some numbers and asked a few pointed questions and then I told them all the reasons they were wrong and then let them point out all the reasons I was wrong one more time.  Then you say – okay, well how are we going to fix this, what are you offering, blah blah blah, and you come to an agreement that no one is happy with and you discuss emails and addresses and checks are written and people grumble.  But as you are walking out of the door, you ask about the other person’s family, and their life and how business is going and you slap each other on the back or shake hands and act like you haven’t just been fighting for the past hour.   

It’s weird.  I’m so glad tomorrow is Friday.

Yesterday was the Junior League Attic Sale.  I honestly can’t remember the last time I did so much straight up manual labor in one day.  I moved furniture, shutters, plywood, tables, and about everything else under the sun, including a box of children’s shoes, which were pretty cute.  I have been dreading the attic sale for months.  Last saturday we had to move everything from the warehouse to the fairgrounds, and then we worked from 6-9 every night this week, and finally had to be at the fairgrounds at 6:30 yesterday morning.  None of that sounded like a lot of fun to me.  I seriously considered dropping out.  But I’ve never quit anything in my life, and I didn’t really want to start now.  But, I also hate to be a part of anything that I can’t be enthusiastic about and I hate people who have bad attitudes, and I didn’t want to be the person with the bad attitude.  So I tried to suck it up.  And you know, it did end up being fun, and I’m really glad I didn’t drop out.  It went by a lot quicker than I anticipated.  But it was a lot of work, and it was really dirty.  My elbows hurt.  And I made some friends. 

Yesterday afternoon (after a hot shower) we went to Vallartas and ate cheese dip and drank beers and margaritas and relaxed in the sunshine and it was so nice to be finished with all the hard work and it was so warm outside I was able to wear my favorite summer dress for the for time this year.  I listened to my new friends tell the stories of how they ended up in augusta and what led them to the junior league.    I convinced everyone that they wanted to come over to my new house and sit on my front porch.  It was awesome.  My sweet little house has been empty for a couple of years and it is so happy to have people to sit on it’s front porch on Saturday night.  I just hope my new neighbors are as excited as my house is. 

Speaking of my house, I’m going to go over there in a few minutes and take some pictures.  I should have taken pictures as soon as I bought it, but it was pouring down rain all last weekend and so dark, and then I’ve been at the fairgrounds all week, but today is beautiful and I want to take pictures before we paint and decorate and get everything together.  I will try to put some up so you can see the progress. 

My aching muscles and joints are having a battle with my brain.  My brain is saying, GET UP!  GO DO SOMETHING!  IT’S SO PRETTY!  YOU HAVE THINGS TO DO!  My joints and muscles are saying, PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE!  STOP ABUSING US!  WE’VE HAD ENOUGH!!

I mean, I’ve been running 35-45 minutes recently.  After 20 minutes today I thought I was going to drop dead.  It also might have had something to do with the wine I drank last night. 

But when I got home I was rushing to get ready to go to dinner with my dad – jumped in the shower, got dressed, etc.  I’m all ready.  But I’m still sweating. 

Ew.  I forget how long it takes to cool off after a run when it is hot outside. 

This past Friday night we had a baby shower for our friends Caleb and Faris.  It was so much fun.  I think what made it such a fun party is that almost everyone there knew more than half of the people there.  Not the same half, but at least half.  And when you know at least half, you are able to more easily meet the other half.  It wasn’t like at a wedding where one half knows each other and the other half does too, but there are two different groups. 

This was more of an overlapping sort of thing and it made the party flow nicely and after a little wine or beer, everyone was more than happy to meet the people they didn’t know.  Faris said she really enjoys the presents for the baby because there is a reality to getting baby presents that isn’t there when you are receiving wedding presents.  I thought that was an interesting comment.  We were deathly afraid it was going to rain the entire party, but the rain stopped Friday afternoon and didn’t start back until late in the night.   

Saturday morning I awoke when my phone rang at 8:15.  It was my mom, wanting to know if I was coming to the charity 5k that was taking place at MCG.  I had signed up for it, and had picked up my packet, but I could hear the wind whipping around my house and my bed was so warm and I DID NOT WANT TO GO.  But then Jennifer called, and said she would pick me up in 20 minutes and I figured I could handle it. 

I’m glad I went, it was for a great cause, and I saw a lot of old friends.  But in all honesty I can’t say I enjoyed it.  It was 45 degrees and the wind was blowing 30 mph.  I’m not being dramatic.  It really was blowing 30 mph.  Every step I took away from the starting line was mentally challenging.  It wasn’t until we started heading back to the finish line that I started to warm up and calm down. 

After the race we ate at waffle king with my parents and that was AWESOME, even though it took forever.  Post waffle king I went home and took a little nap. 

Saturday night we had my dad’s 60th birthday party.  Let me tell you how fun that was.  Saturday afternoon was not that much fun, because since the wind was blowing so hard and it was so cold outside, what was suppose to be a big party in the backyard ended up being  a big party in the house.  So we spent the afternoon moving furniture and setting up everything. 

I swear Saturday was one of the longer days of my life.  The wind did end up dying down, and the fire in the backyard was enjoyed by most of the guests, even though the bulk of the party was in the house.  I think Big Trav had a great time.  One of his friends found an old football from 1948 on the internet and brought it with two sharpies and had everyone sign it and gave it to him as the Game Ball.  I thought that was so thoughtful and cute and awesome.

In other news, I have been severely struggling to get out of bed this week.  I don’t know what my problem is, but when my alarm goes off in the morning I have no idea where I am or what is going on.  I know it is the time change, but seriously.  I really love it when the time changes, I like it to stay light longer, but I normally adjust quicker to it.  I’ve been trying to go to sleep early.  I’ve also been trying to work out more, so that I can get back into shape.  I’ve been pretty lazy recently.  So maybe that is part of it.  I don’t know. 

I know y’all really wanted a blow by blow of my weekend.  Maybe sometime soon I’ll have some intelligent observation about the world in which we live in.  Until then, I’m counting down the minutes until the TOUR-NA-MENT!