MIA Much?

Hey Friends!

I've abandoned this blog... and started a new one :) Check me out here!

Be Ready and then Some!

A few things to check off my bucketlist:

1. Sit in the driver's seat of a firetruck.
2. Hold the Jaws of Life.
3. Hold a fire hose.
4. Wear turnout gear.
5. Ride in an ambulance, sirens, lights and all.
6. Take a spin on a gurney.

Yep, just a regular week at work!

Jack on a Saturday

Yesterday, I made a new adventure... to Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. I'm a whiskey girl. I find it funny, because my mom likes wine, my dad likes beer, and I like liquor. Odd.

Jack on the Rocks

My former boss, Ruth, is a squire there at Jack's and often frequents that lovely place. This time we went in honor of Jack's birthday. Let me just say, it gave me a greater appreciation for what I drink. It's also made me love it even more. The entire time I toured there, all I wanted was a whiskey sour. It was fun to see the wood that became charcoal, how three ingredients can have such a high proof... fun stuff like that. It was even neater to see the barrel-houses where they store all the whiskey. It was amazing to learn the history of the distillery, learn the difference in between Gentleman's Jack, Single Barrel, and the good ol' No. 7. I'd love to know what the 7 stands for, by the way.... ,maybe it's for Jack's many girlfriends.

It was a great time to be had. I completed my trip with Jack Daniel's t-shirt (I just couldn't resist) and just had the barista at Starbucks complement it... too bad it didn't get me a free pumpkin spice latte.

Me, Ruth, Diane, Brent, Chance, TK, Rachel, Scott and Shep in front of the original distillery office.

The two ladies (aka Shep and TK) thinking on Jack's grave.

TK playing checkers with Jack

This was for TK

You're So Selfish

I'm coming clean with y'all. The number one thing about myself that annoys me to high heaven is I get selfish in conversations.

Seriously.

Whenever someone asks me how I'm doing, how's my week been, etc., I answer their question. And leave them hanging, forgetting to ask them how their life's been. Selfish.

I've only realized it lately. How sad and miserable is that?

For example, I'm all caught up in the fact that I can't find my Raybans or iPod charger, while one of my closest friends tells me that someone she was interested in is pursuing other roads and is heartbroken to say the least. How bad of a friend am I?

Or a coworker who asks me about life and I go on a rant about how my mind's going to mush. And do I ask him about his life? Only 5 minutes later when I realize that I was (shock) selfish and didn't ask him the same question back.

It's not like it's a repetition thing, just doing the "good thing." It's the honest thing. Since they cared enough to ask me about my life, I should ask them about theirs. It's the honest, right thing to do.

Just a random thought from me to you :)

Back to the Real World

Well, it's started. I'm officially back into the swing of things with school and such. I'm refusing to take more than 12 credit hours from here on out because of all the lessons I learned from last spring. I also didn't realize last spring just how much side work education majors get.

It's a semi-ok semester from what it seems. Of course, I've only just started as of this week. So things could change. But when my art teacher tells me that I have 2 minutes to draw Medusa's Bad Hair Day, I think things will be just fine. What's amusing (but really not because I remember being in their shoes) is the new students at Athens that have 104329823 goals to achieve. For example, background checks, TB tests, meeting with advisers, staying afloat and not drowning in work. Some haven't even decided WHICH degree they want. A guy was telling me he either wants biology or elementary... and I thought, "buddy, those pre-requisites are completely different!"

On top of school, there's still work at Camp. I'm super excited though, because next week, I have training for Be Ready Camp. Be Ready is held by the State of Alabama, where 6th graders come and learn how to be proactive in a national emergency. At the end of the week, we simulate a disaster where they triage, treat wounds, rescue, etc. I'm so excited for it! I loved working with the middle school kids I had this summer, so this is a treat to me.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Dear Summer,

I really don't want you to end. I've had so much fun and don't want fall to come around.

This is hard to say because  I LOVE fall. I love the smell, the colors, the change of season. I love going to my little college with leaves falling all around me. Yet, you've been amazing this year and it's safe to say that you're my second favorite... maybe even vying for my only favorite.

You see, I've met so many great friends at my amazing, spectacular job. We've had the best weekends ever by going downtown and going... broke. Or going down to the river making fun of all the people that are parking there and, well... we'll let that one be.

I'll miss the nights of telling kids to be quiet and get to sleep... the odd peacefulness of the lake... resetting kids on flight sims because they're taxiing way.too.fast... getting free popcorn at IMAX...

You see, you've been very good to me, dear Summer... the weeks are winding down, you've passed by way too fast. Now friends are leaving and going back to their schools; I, too, start school in a month... and even though technically you don't end until September, it feels like you're leaving now.

Star Wars and Free Tickets

I have to say that my number one annoyance about working at a place with a museum is asking for a hook up to cheap (or free) tickets. Or trying to get a discount for their kid to go to Space Camp. I know I have the coolest job ever (even though I'm so tired I forget how excited I was when I got it) and that I work at a neat place.

But I really CANNOT get you free tickets to Star Wars. I can't even get my family free tickets. And I refuse to let people to take my family passes to get discounts. So don't ask.

Ever.

Granted, Star Wars IS really cool, I'll hand that to you. I'd much rather take my kids to that exhibit that go operate a simulator. Even though I'm not a Star Wars nerd by any means whatsoever, it's neat to look at. But I still won't buy you tickets. You can buy them yourself.

So don't ask. Ever.

The end.