Lunch Break

Beth White - World Renowned Photographer...? Nope. I took this picture yesterday in Johnson City on my way up the mountain to one of the sites. It was an overpass close to the top of the mountain that some guys from the local shop kept telling me I need to go see. This picture turned out better than I thought since I took it on my phone, but it still doesn't do the view any justice. I am going here everytime I visit JC now. Fo sho.

On another note, I listened to podcasts more than music this roadtrip, and I have found a new favorite podcast. It is How Stuff Work's Stuff You Should Know Podcast. It's pretty awesome. I managed to learn about controlling dreams, OCD, why we have body hair, and flirting all within two hours. And lets be honest...these are really important things to know. Check it out.

Happy Mustache Thursday!

Really guys? Thanks.

Why is it always so dang cold in bookstores? I mean people that come here actually enjoy reading so you don't have to keep us awake with weather from Antarctica. Plus, it must cost a good amount to keep the temperature so low. I'm just sitting in Barnes & Noble right now trying to get some work done, and I am about to freeze to death. Thought I would vent a little.

Last Week in a Nutshell

I'm about to get back to my traveling ways in t minus 2 or so hours, and you'll never guess where I'm headed...my new work week home of JC, TN. I didn't have to go out of town at all last week which was very awesome, but I realized that I wasn't very good at sitting at an office desk for 8 hours, and that was even with a break Wednesday working at home. I found myself going to the grocery store or Borders during my lunch break just to get out of the office.

I liked being back in the normal swing of things post work though. I mean what beats your own bed at night? Ladies, am I right? Wow I haven't watched Ellen in a really long time. Damn grownup world.

Being back, I got to hit up the gym a few times. I actually went to the one near my office right after work one day which left me time to bum around afterwards. I hit up Whole Foods which I found out the next day a lot of folks that shop there are boycotting since the owner stepped up against health reform. My sister informed me of this after I told her about my visit. I thought it was pretty funny that I unknowingly threw in my support for him.

Mustache Thursday was back in full swing at Sam's. Just a little later than usual. And it was awesome.


Some firsts for me this week...

• Ate at Stoney River compliments of a vendor I work with. The filet was amazing.
• Played tennis for the first time in about a year at Belmont. Picked moving weekend which was probably the busiest it is all year.
• Ran over 5 miles at the gym!!! I went for a quick run yesterday since I was still sore from tennis, and it turned into an hour long run. Needless to say I am a little sore today but it's that kind of sore that makes you proud of what you did...not regret what you did.

Oh the girls went out to dinner Friday and decided to dine al fresco since it was ridiculously nice outside. There was this weird Spanish influenced building across the street, and we couldn't decide if it was a church or restaurant or what. But it had a gate. Turns out it's Dolly Parton's admin offices. Crazy. We didn't love the restaurant, but I think we might go back just to see if we can get a glimpse of the one and only Dolly...and the vino was half off during August.

Fun Fun

What I did this weekend besides ruin pictures...LAKE TRIP in KY.

• Rode/Drove a waverunner for the first time in years
• Visited the great state of KY for the first time
• Participated in my second beer olympics (and took home the bronze I might add)
• Went to bed after the sun came up (am I in college again?)
• Was introduced to the Crazy Wheel
  
• Went swimming with a dress on
• Learned an awesome new game called Derby (naturally) that will make football season that much more fun
• ...Got lucky???

Here are the pictures I ruined (aka Kacey and Beth photoshoot). Yessssss.

And the best one of the weekend ladies and gents...

I feel like I should win some kind of award for this.

Oh here's a good picture that came out of the bunch with some Nashvegas gals.


I was excited about the lake (and my newly Crest whitestripped teeth). Hence the akwardly large smile. I just realized while looking at this pic that I never show my bottom teeth when I smile...until now.

So yeah that's it. I just slapped a mosquito on my leg and blood smeared on me (and I don't know if it's mine). Gross. I think I'm going to go take a shower now.

Lady and Her Uke

Since I'm on a streak (and by streak I mean one) of covering songs of artists I'll be seeing in concert soonish, I thought I'd continue on. I'm going to see these guys on Halloween at the Ryman which happens to be a Saturday night, and I've already peed my pants with excitement numerous times.

The Avett Brothers - When I Drink Cover

Dude. I had to tune my uke down a step for this song, and it kept trying to tune itself back up mid song. So sorry it's somewhat out of tune, but I just said to hell with it.

Oh...and I guess I proved the ukulele can definitely do downer songs, huh? I'll go with a more uplifting tune next go around.

5k...Take 2

So I ran another 5k at the gym, and I had shaved 4 minutes off my last time. Hooray. I think I might start training for longer distances. We'll see though because I've also been swimming as of late.

I bought a swimming cap a couple of weeks ago because everybody's wearing them at the Y. Then, I decided to try it on at work. It was a Friday, I had gone out the night before with boss and coworkers, and it was my birthday so...

Yes. Someone else did have to take the picture.

Oh and the whole fam came into town for the bday weekend and stayed at Opryland. We had a blast as usual. We hit Hillsboro Village, and I finally got to go to this used bookstore I had been eying for a couple of years now...and I got Emily Post's Etiquette circa 1945 copyright. Hilarious. We laid by the pool, shopped, went to see Harry Potter. Simply put, it was an ideal weekend.

My oldest nephew is convinced that Nashville is the greatest place simply because of Pancake Pantry, Opryland, and the fact that I have a PlayStation and Xbox360. Love it.

Taking It Back

I've basically been in Johnson City for the past two business weeks working it hard. Ha. So the weekends have literally been for regrouping for another week of travel.

I was just downloading some new tunes for the travels, and I decided to download the first cd I ever had. Awesome idea if I do say so myself. My first cd was Nada Surf's High/Low. Remember that song Popular? Yeah...it was on that cd. Turns out I really enjoyed the whole cd which is beyond me because I was only 10 when it came out, but I did have a surf influenced music phase. Anyways, I am thoroughly enjoying the cd all over again. I recommend everyone listen to that first cd they owned if you don't already.

On another note, I climbed a tower this week which I'm really not suppose to do, but I only went like 6 or so feet up. Then one of the other engineers walked out and totally wanted to take pictures so I senior portraited it up. Check it...

My climbing shoes were prime.

Lady and Her Uke

Because I'm so excited about seeing her already, and the concert is exactly 3 months away.

AND y'all haven't heard me and my uke yet.

Ingrid Michaelson - Giving Up Cover

Yea for high notes.