The Funny Thing Is...

I really am blessed to have a job that I love. One of my favorite things is when I get to travel to events. Tonight I went to Frankfort for their annual club meeting. The funny thing is, I drive into these meetings and towns sometimes thinking, "Where the heck am I, why is there nothing here, this is so po-dunk." I pull up to these hole-in-the-wall local dives (I only had to turn around once to find this one) named things like "The Office Pub and Grill" that are hardly marked. I walk in and heads turn and look at me like I obviously don't belong there...maybe it's the lost look on my face, the fact I'm the only person under the age of 45, or the box of junk that I am carrying. I quickly judge the pink laminate countertops in the bathroom, the outdated furnishings, and the over the top UK memorabilia all over the walls. Dinner was served on mint green plastic (or acrylic?) divided plates. I didn't know they still made that color in anything kitchen related.

But then a funny thing happens. The owners don't hesitate to put on an apron and set out the food. They are more than accommodating when you need to rearrange. You are served a perfect glass of sweet tea. Someone always says a blessing before everyone eats. And you get REAL mashed potatoes with REAL butter. Home cookin' even when you aren't home (the liver and onions were highly recommended -- I declined and went for chicken). If you are a visitor, your money is no good -- someone always picks up your tab. And offers you seconds on dessert. You learn about people and their families -- how their son is skipping his boy scout meeting to be there tonight and their 5th grade daughter is playing on the 7th grade basketball team. You hear stories about how campus used to be wet, with kegs in the dorms and Sigma Nu Beer Bash, when they went through 120 kegs in 2 hours. How the front half of Two Keys used to be a drug store, and there was no patio. As one alum said, "It could just be the three of us standing here and it would have been crowded." (He was only 18 when he started going to Two Keys...some things never change.) You hear from someone who was actually at the 1957 UK vs. Temple game and witnessed "The Shot" by Vernon Hatton. They always ask where you are from and what your folks do.

The funny thing is, by the time it's over and I leave to go home, I have to pull myself away. It may seem so backwards at first, but sometimes I think they are really on to something. It's a slower pace with southern hospitality. I immediately feel like a friend and neighbor. It's times like this that I really am thankful for my job and feel so blessed that I get to do what I do. I really am lucky, and am especially reminded of that on nights like tonight.

I hope you each feel just as blessed :)

Simply,
MJ

As We Go On...

Isn't it funny how quickly time flies? Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of this picture:

I can't believe that it has been a year since graduation. College was by far one the best chapters in my life. I know I'm in another exciting chapter, with much to learn and do, but I always get a little sad looking at the by-gones. KB and I were talking yesterday about how this is one of the best points we will be at and it's true -- we are making money, living independently, old enough to go out without breaking any laws, don't look like children anymore, but still not having our bodies affected by age yet, etc., but MAN, those were the days.

This year has taught me a lot and forced me to grow a lot. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster at times, from leaving work and immediately calling my parents crying to laughing and going to bachelorette parties and girls weekends. I do know this -- I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends and a great support system. My friends and family are my rock and keep me sane!

“A good friend is a connection to life—a tie to the past,
a road to the future,
the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”
―Lois Wyse

And it's funny how you can't really plan...if you had asked me 2 years ago where I would be today, my answer would have been very different. Such is life I guess. God has his own plans that we can't know or understand -- we just have to trust in Him and have a little faith.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Proverbs 19:21

So happy graduation anniversary to you all (and happy graduation this year to Alana!). I love you each dearly.

Sorry for the sappy post! I just get sentimental at times!

Simply,
MJ

Dear February...

You snuck up on me so quickly! It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating Christmas! You come as a swift reminder to pick up my slack on some New Year's Resolutions (although I am quite proud of my efforts on a few others). But you also remind me that spring is right around the corner...oh, happy days!

In your honor, I'm going to try to include a "love" quote with each post this month. (Key word: try.) First up:

"Be careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came from Adam's rib, not from his feet to be walked on, not from his head to be made superior, but from the side of him to be made equal. Taken from under the arm so she should always be protected, and close to his heart for her to always be loved."

I'm not sure who this is by. I've heard that it's taken from the Hebrew Talmud. But I chose it because I'm in a great mood tonight and attended Theology on Tap again earlier today. T.O.T. covered a few controversial issues tonight, but my favorite take away was this: Our society is leaning towards a Principle of Tolerance. Tolerance has risen as the standard for the secular world. But how does that affect our faith? How can you exist in a tolerant world and still be moral? We tolerate adultry, divorce, abortion, the death penalty....but we don't have to be tolerant. It brings to mind another quote: "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." Just some brain food :)

Sleep sweet, blog world!

Simply,
MJ

Random Acts of Kindness

First off, I am so sorry for leaving you hanging for a week. I've been busy with work (and will be through next week), so I haven't had time to think of interesting things to write. Keyword: interesting. It's strange that since I've started this little blog project I'll think of things randomly throughout the day that I could blog about. And then ultimately decide that A. It isn't interesting enough B. It's a stupid idea or C. I don't have enough to say about it.

But I will say this....

Random acts of kindness make me happy. Seriously. Even if they aren't directed at me. It's something about knowing that there are good, thoughtful people in the world still. That humans are still capable of caring about one another, when all we seem to be told is that people are selfish. The news is filled with terrible things -- death, adultery, greed. It's so refreshing to be reminded that the other end of the spectrum still exists. For example: Last week, I left work on Thursday after it had been snowing the entire afternoon only to find that the boy had brushed all the snow off my car already. (I was extremely grateful! Being practical, I wore flats. Being unpractical, didn't think that 2 inches of snow + drifts = snow in my shoes.) When I got home I found that someone had moved the trashcan from the curb back up against the house before all the snow. (Again, I was wearing flats. And it was COLD. Seeing that kind of thoughtfulness made me feel warm inside.) And as if that all wasn't enough, I came home Friday to find the front walk shoveled. (Did I mention that I couldn't find a snow shovel anywhere in the garage???)

People will never cease to amaze you if you just let them. You just need to have a little faith.

---

On another note, I've made a good start on at least one of my resolutions! I made an appointment with an orthopedist to have my shoulder looked at again. I won't lie, I hung up the first time I called. I had to work up a bit of nerve. I'm just annoyed with still having to go to the doctor for the same issue, but circumstances haven't allowed for me to get it taken care of before now. I joked (or was it really a joke?) with my dad that I'm just going to type out a list of symptoms and a timeline of doctors, medications, shots and treatments to hand over. It has to be easier than rehashing the last 2 years. Of course I had to also call the last orthopedist and request copies of my X-rays and MRI's to provide the new doctor...

Awkward.

It felt a little bit like breaking up. The lady on the phone didn't seem to believe me when I said that my new insurance didn't cover them, almost like the typical, "It's not you, it's me" speech or the "I want us to be together, but we just can't be together right now." The next step is to go by and pick up my things...

Hope you all find a kind act to do for another person and are staying on track with your resolutions!

Simply,
MJ