The Growler

So I was just reminded of a funny story story that happened to me a few months ago, in the first few weeks that I started my job here in Memphis, and I wanted to share it, because its really too good/weird to not...

So one day, just like any of the rest here in the office, I was drinking some Diet Coke (aka LH) which subsequently caused the need to ahem, relieve myself, in the nearest restroom. Well, I made the familiar trek down the long hallway and to the ladies room. Now, here in the Memphis office at the Fed there aren't many employees, and surprisingly of those, there are very few females, and thus usually when I walk into the bathroom the lights arent on and the sensor kicks in when I open the door. This day was very different. As I opened the door, I noticed the bathroom was already lit up, therefore signifying another lady might also be accompanying me on my bathroom visit, but I still wasnt sure... and if you know me, you know that I am super jumpy and am scared very easily, so I was already a little wary... Anyways, so I opened the door wider and all a sudden I hear a door close behind the wall (where the row of toilets are) and a loud growl comes to my ears. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a GROWL. So I stop short, still holding the door semi-open so I can make my escape if need be, when a little old lady about 5 foot 1 walks out from around the partition... and growls... again. But this time, she is looking straight at me, with her hands up by her face curled into a claw-like fashion (think: tiger) and then all a sudden bursts into laughter. Laugh-ter. Forreal. At this point, her sudden attack (yes, attack) had scared me not once, but twice, so my heart was pounding a little faster and for some reason my feet, or mouth, wouldn't move. When she notices I still hadn't moved, or recognized her existence with any sort of audible word or blink of an eye, she simply says, "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else". Like its completely normal to be growling at other people in the bathroom, but since it was me, someone she has never seen or talked to, that makes it abnormal. No, lady, its never normal and never OK and it never should happen again, sorry. So she turned around and started washing her hands and I, still not uttering a word, walk straight into a stall to escape... the Growler... which my department has now dubbed her.

When I told my boss this story at lunch that day he told me I should have barked at her. Also, I just ran into her in the bathroom 5 minutes ago and that's what reminded me of that story. Hope you enjoyed.

Drama King...

As most of you know, I am an avid football fan (please refer my blog post last season) Though pro is my forte, I don't descriminate against any others, whether college, highschool or pee-wee.. I enjoy it all... and as we are in the middle of week 3 preseason games, this time around is no different. As most of the nation (lets admit it, the world) knows, there is so much drama and shady crap that goes on in sports, and being the celeb figures they have turned into, NFL players are the drama creme of the crop. Please take for example.. Brett Favre.

He is the epitome of football, and is argueably one of the greatest players of all time. With the records for most career passing touchdowns, yards, completions and attempts (and oh yeah, interceptions...) you can't ignore the fact that football is definitely Favre's forte. But lets step back for a second, behind all his impressive records and rugged good looks (and dont even try to deny it), and please can I ask the question: What in the name of all that is holy is going through his head?!? I don't even know if John Madden could break it down into stupid terms for us, because I'm pretty sure there has been no rhyme or reason to this entire ordeal (which has lasted a painstaking year), other than the bright lights of the media. I mean I know Brett and I arent really on a first name basis and I don't know the exact reason why he's flip flopping and changing his mind every few minutes (oh wait maybe I do.. I used to do that.. when I was 15) but I do know that every football fan across the freakin globe is sick of it. There are a numberless amount of players who quit and are traded and dropped and retire throughout the entire on and off season, without as much of a blink of an eye or a wave goodbye... its football, you switch teams, you get old, you break too many bones, its freakin OK! but to go in and out of retirement 3 (4? 5?) times??! Yeah, maybe even thats ok with me. But to involve everyone else, make a freakin big deal out of Aaron Rogers taking over your spot, leaving the Jets, going back into retirement, and then going to the Vikings (a GB rival, noless) and doing it all in the shining spot light? please, spare me. Not only does it take over sportscenter for weeks at a time, but its a dissapointment. He talks like he's some down-home-Mississippi boy and turns around and pulls a fast one on you (ok multiple fast ones). I'm not ok with that.

Phew. Well now that's out in the open I can also tell you how freakin ridic (i.e. ridiculous) Plaxico Burress is. That's all there is to say about that.

And the world spins madly on....

I remember thinking about a week before I graduated "I can't wait for life to be less stressful so I can finally get some sleep and relax". It never occurred to me, 4 months down the road, I would be busier and (surprise!) more sleep deprived than I ever was during any finals week or procrastination dilemma. But it also never occurred to me, 4 months down the road, I would be moving to Memphis, TN on my own, meeting amazing new people, finding out my strengths..and way too many weaknesses, and learning how to be simply content. Though stability is a little more tangible than it was a few short months ago, things still get shaken up a bit, and I'm still adjusting a little more every day.

People ask me a lot if I like it here, if I feel like I fit in, if I wish I was somewhere else, doing something different...and sometimes I laugh at them (sometimes not the most appropriate reaction, mind you) and confess those questions have never really entered my mind. I never let myself question if this is where I belong, because I've already decided and know that it is, (I mean really, why would I come here if I didn't feel like I should?) and I never let myself focus on the bad (and believe me, there are a lot of crazies here in Memphis), because I know there is so much good and so much to look forward to, and I never allow myself to wish for something or somewhere else, because frankly I am so blessed to be here and doing something I love - why would I wish that?

So. Even though I haven't got the stress-free life I thought post-graduation brought, or a good 8-hour nights rest in weeks, or even took a Saturday afternoon to lounge by the pool... my life is pretty great. I have had a blast exploring Memphrica (as we like to call it), going on my first exam to Hartford, KY, attending my BFFs Ashley (Lund's) wedding reception, visiting my family in NC and going to the beach!!!, and just enjoying the last rays of summer.

Here is a photo log update of the last couple months... (In no particular order...)

Dancing at the Rumba Room - downtown Memphrica

The whole group - we were definitely the life of the party.

My Aunt Katy + cousins came to visit and we went down by the MS river

Cass & I at BB Kings - Beale St!

Ashley (now Lund) looked absolutely stunning and happy at the reception!! :) Jim, Mere and I at the Collective Soul/Gavin Degraw concert - Southaven, MS

me, Josh, JP and Cass at the Redbirds game - on Harry Potter night! :)

Pope's 24th birthday celebration!

4th of July waiting for fireworks on Mud Island

me + my sister = awesome

the sibs (minus christopher) - Sunset Beach, NC

attempting to skimboard again - fail again

A full time tourist

So I have decided that although I am a "permanent" resident of Memphis, TN that I can still be a tourist. Thus, one of my first adventures here in the Rock and Roll Capital of the world involved Beale Street, and you guessed it, none other than the King himself....

I have also begun my grown-up-real-job at the Fed and am (so far) loving it! My first week I went to St. Louis for training and was able to go to 2 Cards games with my new coworkers/friends Meredith and Michael (aka Pope)...


Since then I've been back in Memphis getting settled into office life... until the end of July anyways when my first exam will be!.... and I'm still trying to get used to this Tennessee heat (although I think that is virtually impossible) and loving every minute of meeting new people, learning how to navigate without my trusted tomtom, and really just falling comfortably into a brand new beginning...

Because I'm a grown up...

So I am officially a Memphian (yes, this is what we are called according to FM 100) It has been quite an adventure since I have been here, with moving in... finding furniture... and getting lost everywhere I go... but I had a lot of help (thanks, Mom!) and support (thanks, all my parents!) and really do like it here (surprise!) It definitely is way different than anywhere I have ever lived... for example... the weather! It is hot as hades here! I thought NC was hot and humid, but I had never been to southern Tennessee. It's a good thing I live in an apartment complex with 2 (count them, ONE, TWO) pools! Also, its a good thing that I live in a place with air conditioning (boo ya, Rexburg) So here are a few pictures of my new apartment! Obviously it's a masterpiece in the making so not much to show, except my amazing new furniture!






On a side note, I finally got my cable and internet hooked up (obviously) and before I could even enjoy Sportscenter and Jon and Kate plus 8, my TV decided to bring back the subtitles that won't go away.... yet again... When my cable guy was flipping through the channels to make sure everything was AOK, he noticed them and when I told him they show up randomly and won't go away until I don't know - my temperamental TV wants them to go away - he laughed at me and proceeded to make fun of it. So my task for this morning? Wal-Mart to pick up a new remote that will let me actually control my TV and ridicule from others. :)

Summerness

So before I go into the "real world" I have been trying to soak up my responsibility-free summer (well the two weeks I have left of it anyways) and so it got me thinking... what means 'summer'? What reminds me of the time off school and the blazing hot sun? To me, summer is the feeling of carefree, of irresponsibility, of laying by the pool and slathering sunscreen on. Its driving to the beach with the windows down and my favorite pair of sunglasses on. Its my eyes being so tired from the sun that I fall asleep on the couch around 7 PM. Its trips to the ballpark to watch no-name minor league players, eat hot dogs, and crack open peanuts. Its ordering pizza and hanging out with friends and losing track of time until its 2 in the morning. Its sinking my feet into the soft sand on the shore and reading an Irving Stone book. Its chocolate frozen yogurt and a waffle cone. Its waking up to thunder storms and lightening that makes the night sky look purple. Its a kind of happiness that doesn't exist in fall or winter or spring. I love summer, and I hope that even though I'm starting a new job I'll be able to enjoy it like I always do... So far, I can't complain... :)

Post Grad & Pre Real World....

So I know I have slowly but surely become less-than-admirable at this whole blogging endeavor... but things have been busy and I promise to be better in the future! (therefore, this will be long.. and you have been warned)

Life since graduation has been a roller coaster, to be quite honest. I can't believe its been almost 2 months since I walked across the stage! (I didn't say 'received my diploma' because I have yet to do so... Apparently they don't send those out when you still have charges on your student account from renting a tent and sleeping bags for a weekend excursion to the Grand Canyon.... I guess I should get on that.) Since graduation I have traveled the country (well, across the country), and I was able to visit family and friends along the way.

My mom and I enjoying the sun! Playing with my nephews, Homero and Joshua in the park!Having a wonderful (and windy) picnic in the park with Megan in Louisville!

When I got back to NC I had enough time to take a shower, eat a home cooked meal and do a load of laundry before I was traveling again... but this time by plane (thank goodness!) and to Memphis for an interview for the Federal Reserve Bank... After I got back from that little adventure I worked at Vincenzo's and even took a roadtrip with my sister to see our brother Billy at school.... conviently he goes to UNC-Wilmington... 5 minutes from the beach. :-)

This is my turtle Sandy, Billy demolished her after this picture was taken.

Dispersed throughout the month of May were brothers soccer games....


Beautifying the roadsides for Winston-Salem Day of Service with Joey & our convict-looking-vests...


A pre-Father's day gift of viewing the new Star Trek movie (complete with trekkie t-shirts)...


And movie nights with Jordan & Daniel with a little help of the Snuggie...


phew. THEN I got some great news last Monday morning.... that job I interviewed for in Memphis??? YEP, I got it! I have been super excited ever since, and of course that nervous/anxious feeling you get with every new, unexpected experience comes along with it. I feel so fortunate and blessed to be given this opportunity during the difficult times we are all living in, and so thrilled that its something that I have been preparing for for so long. I will be an Assistant Bank Examiner for the St. Louis Fed, but will be located in Memphis at the branch office there. I was able to visit Memphis this past week to search for apartments... and not only did I find one... I found the perfect one! Here are a few pictures of my favorite parts of my new place!

My new apartment is right down the street from the Memphis, Tennessee temple!! I have my own little patio!!!And my own gas fireplace! :)

I move next Friday (June 5th) and my first day of training is June 15th in St. Louis. I am so excited to start this 'next chapter' in my life that I honestly spend all my spare time websurfing for couches, bookcases, new banks, local restaurants, anything that will get me ready for my new home... and life really...

I have said recently that all the uncertainty surrounding my future that has clouded my world over the past several months has somehow brought clarity to every other facet of my life... Whether it has been within myself or even relationships with others, I have continually looked for ways to improve and learn, despite my lack of direction and 'plan'. I am so grateful for this new beginning, for this nudge in the right direction, for this answered prayer.