High School Christmas party at Natalie's. There is a pic of me and Nat on her camera. Hopefully she will forward it to me so I can post with the others. IT WAS SSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD TO SEE AMY BONDS!!!!!!!(See first picture)

projects cont.

pics of the paintings i just finished...posted for nat!

Home Improvement Projects

I have a rather long list of things that need to be done at my place. All of it has been put off due to work schedule and general procrastination on my part. I know I am not the "handiest" of people; but yesterday was reminded exactly how awful I am with hammer, drill, anything tool-like. Grrrr, I left some things undone after reaching my frustration threshold. My dad would be soooo disappointed in my inabilities around the house.

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve Open House

And yet another Christmas Party

This is always a fun one though. I got to catch up with a lot of people I haven't seen in a while; some probably 12 or 15 years. I had a little too much fun as today's errands and preparation for our Holiday Open House are quite painful. The thought of picking up last minute odds and ends at my mother's request, getting dressed, and entertaining is making me want to barf right now! Oh and Southern Belle sandwiches...wtf? My parents ordered some catering trays from them that had to be picked up by noon. I was sent on said errand. Only to pull up and see a line of people out the door who apparently had the same idea!!! I have experienced Tony's Seafood on a holiday pick-up day and will never do that again. Will have to add Southern Belle to that list. Ladies (unattractive ones) standing behind a counter barking...
"NAME???"
"PICK-UP TIME?" - Oh shit, parents didn't forward that detail. Apparently they arrange all of the orders in stacks by pick-up time. Not knowing my pick-up time forced her to look through 15 stacks of paper. Why there were so many stacks, I don't understand. It was 11:15 and they were closing at noon.
Blah Blah Blah. Are the holidays over yet? I am being a grinch and it is unforunate as Christams Eve at my mom's is my favorite day of the year. So, time to snap out of it. Happy Holidays to all (if any) blog readers! Aquarius, I wish I was in Hawaii right now with a fancy umbrella drink and an ipod tuning out the world...OH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAT RAT! Love you and see you in a few hours at the paaaaaty ;)

Sia

Pick me up in your arms
Carry me away from harm
You're never gonna put me down
I know you're just one good man
You'll tire before we see land
You're never gonna put me down

Oh I've been running all my life
I ran away, I ran away from good
Yeah I've been waiting all my life
You're not a day you're not day too soon

Honey I will stitch you
Darling I will fit you in my heart
Darling I will meet you
Darling I will keep you in my heart

You'll risk all this for just a kiss
I promise I will not resist
Promise they won't track us down
And when we reach the good place
Let's be sure to leave no trace
Promise they won't track us down

Now I've been running all my life
I ran away, I ran away from good
Yeah, I've been waiting all my life
You're not a day, you're not a day too soon

Darling I will keep you
Darling I will meet you in my heart
Honey I will fit you
Darling I will stitch you in my heart

I've been running all my life
I ran away, I ran away from good
Yeah I've been waiting all my life
You're not a day, you're not a day too soon

Oh Darling I will meet you
Darling I will keep you in my heart
Darling I will fit you
Darling I will stitch you in my heart

Darling I will meet you
Darling I will keep you in my heart
Darling I will fit you
Darling I will stitch you in my heart

Dinner at Chelsea's and It's a Wonderful Life

Last night I met Sheridan for dinner and a Christmas present swap at Chelsea's. It was just cold enough outside to warrant their famous tomato basil soup and delicious grilled cheese. Sheridan tells me on the way in that she has only eaten at Chelsea's once...but how could this be? She is a self-proclaimed (and will get no arguments from me)FOODIE! Their food is yummy and only once, come now Sheridan Fay!!! On the way in we See L & J Noland dining together in the bar, stop buy for a quick visit and introduction to Sheridan; followed by a discussion with holiday bar business and Thanksgiving/ Christmas Bar traditions. We take our seat in the first booth, a comfy corner for us to spend the hour and a half we had before she was due to work. She orders a water and a Stoli Bloody Mary, I order a water and a coffee...which was greeted with a "Coffee???". I had hours of work to do later and didn't think the drink-induced fog would aid in the excel dilemma I currently face with week ending and year ending sheets I am trying to finish/ create/ finish so I can take some time off for the holidays. Looking over the menu, we agree a humus app is the way to go. She ordered Grilled Veggies with Mediterranean Cous Cous, while I ordered the soup and cheese sandwich. Eat, visit, eat and eat and eat. I almost finished the entire grilled cheeses, usually I can only put down half! I did work through lunch yesterday and was extremely hungry. Sheridan tried a couple of bites and loved my sandwich, I think I have her hooked! Now she can join Natalie, Liz N. Green Bean, Dawn and I in the "My name is and I am addicted to Chelsea's ". We exchanged gifts following dinner...I received a monogrammed cola koozie, okay we all know it's for beer! and a Wishbone Charm necklace very similar to the one given to me by Natalie for my birthday (although this time the string is pink, not red and the charm is a wishbone, not a key)...


And I gave Sheridan a guide to Take Out, what a perfect gift!!! I learned last night she has used her microwave twice and never her oven (in April she will have lived there for TWO YEARS!!!)...

The one I gave her is much more comical than the one pictured, I just couldn't find it online.
After dinner, I went to Green Beans to join her in her annual tradition of watching It's A Wonderful Life while she wraps her Christmas gifts. She also gave me my present last night...

And yet another night of parties!

Last night was my work party followed by a friend's annual holiday get together (which I never made it to). Work parties are totally hit or miss with "fun" factor but there is always sure to be excitement. Mine was both this year. I was pleasantly surprised by the good times had by all. We even chose to go out together post-party!!! Photo documented below...

Nick and I having cocktails at Chelsea's. He cracks me up...wish he still worked for us :( Now in Law School in NOLA, probably a better move for him rather than slinging pizza.


Nick's buddy...yikes, I can't recall his name!


This was our Prom Pic! Meagan zoomed in too much. We were totally prom posing!


Meagan after a few drinksies! She was so funny all night. Even fell down at one point! But not in a "hurt herself way" in a silly way. She is laughing about it today :)


My favorite pic of the night!!! Apparently Shannon doesn't drink too much...ha! Tipsy last night though.

Tis the Season...

for way too many parties/ events/ drinks/ social BS in general! I am struggling with the social schedule of late. I feel like I am rushing from work daily to change quick for a party to rush to another party and yet another. I will need a vacation once the last party wraps on the 27th. Literally I have at least one function to attend each day from December 15th thru 27th and on many nights, more than one. Photos are from Third Thursday with Heidi, Holley V and Green Bean (sorry I accidentally deleted the photo of Holley V and I when uploading... :( ). That event was followed by a quick stop at the Red Dress Party and then an art show for Collin R and Frank M at Red Star. Also a photo from Chelsea's for Matt W's graduation party and the Myrtles show after we attended the annual Red Star Christmas Party. Tonight is the work Christmas Party :(

Thanks PB, made me smile today!

A friend was recently in touch for the first time in a while. After a message received from him, I remembered a CD he once gave me and I chose to listen to it while running errands today. It is a mix CD, but MOST of it is Michael Jackson. We all know my deep love of all things MJ and the thriller dance! It had been a few months since I listed to the CD, it was a nice treat today :)

Tag from Aquarius

I stole this from her, but I was #1 on her list of who she would tag on this experiment...ha!

Tag - Five

What were you doing five years ago?
1. Working part-time for my ex-husband in television production
2. Owned an event planning company
3. Raising three teenage step-daughters
4. Buying a house (which I no longer have)
5. Cooking, car pooling, homework etc.


What are five things on your list for today?
1. Christmas Shopping
2. Few phone calls to people I need to catch up with
3. Wrapping purchased gifts
4. Updating facebook and blog with the goings on of Jen Keen (it has been a while)
5. Work Christmas party and a pre-party cocktail function for my department, possible a late night party too if I can make three rounds tonight

What are five snacks that I enjoy?
1. Jello
2. Coffee drinks
3. Jelly Beans
4. Pickled Beets (keep a jar to snack on in my fridge - people think this is a bit strange!)
5. Cheese


What are five things that you'd do if you were a billionaire?
1. Donate to a worthy charity
2. Buy some vacation destination property
3. Open a fancy shoe store
4. Travel the world
5. Take very good care of a handful of special people

What are five jobs that you've had?
1. Director of Marketing
2. Owner of an Event Planning Company
3. Event Manager for an Arena/ Convention Center
4. Administrative Assistant to GM of a Country Club
5. Restaurant Catering Director/ Special Events Coordinator


Who are five people that you want to tag?

1. Natalie
2. Printer Boy
3. Aquarius
4. Jud
5. Finicky

Stolen fron Nat Rat who stole from Finicky...

Tag
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder
3) Explain the picture
4) Tag 4 people to do the sameNO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)


This wasn't nearly as interesting as I had hoped...dang! But goodness I look angry, or maybe the sun is just in my eyes. Photo is from Julie and Jason's wedding in May.

WTF???

While dining and drinking last night outdoors at Chelsea's with Green Bean, Nat Rat, J-Ro, Travis and Lisa...I noticed an odd object hanging in the tree next to our table. I have no idea how I spotted it but somehow an eyelash curler made its way on a tree branch!!! WTF, right???

The Bear

Yesterday I had a Christmas parade for work and general maintenance at the store nearest the parade; so I worked until about 3:00.


On my return drive, I remembered my friend Matt was going to be downtown for a bit bartending the intermissions at the two Christmas Carol performances at Manship Theatre and would have an extended break between intermissions, so I called him to see if may want to hang out on break mid-afternoon as I was recently free of work and wanting a drinksie. I picked him up (as there were multiple events downtown that prevented him from moving his car and treasured parking spot) and we traveled on to Hound Dogs. He had never been! I was shocked, stunned, awed by this fact and uber-anxious for him to experience. As most Saturdays, Joy was bartending and quickly made Matt feel at home in the quasi-gay environment that is Hound Dogs.
We ran into my pal, Mr. Buckey, at Hound Dogs. He is a retired man who lives on the out-skirts of my neighborhood who I often see out and about. We have pleasant conversations about his life experiences when I see him. Yesterday was chilly and Mr. Buckey was wearing a hat I had never seen him wear. He placed it on the bar after taking his seat. I complimented his hat and he proceeded to tell me the hat's story. Apparently his father and the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant were close, personal friends and Mr. Bryant would often visit the family home of Mr. Buckey. On one visit, Mr. Bryant gave Mr. Buckey a hat he purchased by mistake. Said hat was with Mr. Buckey last night and on the bar at Hound Dogs! After hearing Mr. Buckey's story, I asked if I could have my picture taken in the hat; he honored my request...

Blog Neglected...jeez

I don't know why I can't keep up with the blog lately. So much for the blog 365 challenge, think I missed that one as of late. Work has been busy, so that could be my excuse BUT nothing too exciting to share lately I guess, except photos, perhaps?


My neighbor, Heath, and I being silly at Hound Dogs.



Me and other people's children at the downtown festival of lights last Friday...someone did not tell me a little girl was deathly afraid of the big guy in red!!! she crawled up me like a monkey when she saw him :)



Having and "adult beverages" at the Hilton bar after kid time at the festival with Rhodes B.



No clue here, nor do I know who took this picture with MY camera???



Nat Rat and I at Red Star for Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk last Saturday night...Boyd was being silly as usual behind us.



Best of all!!! Me in the slice costume at a local Christmas parade last weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Exhale!

Wow! I finally feel like I can come for air. This weekend saw the last of a string of five consecutive home LSU football games. In addition to it being the inaugural year of our selling product on campus, there were event marketing opportunities for us at several games. Also opening three stores since mid-August and a hurricane coming through...I feel like life has been a whirlwind of sorts for these past few months. Things may begin to slow a little now that we are approaching the oh-so-stressful holiday season. At least this time of year, while hectic, is an upbeat and exciting time of year for me. I plan on catching up with family and friends I feel I have neglected these past few months and enjoying some "down time" and perhaps returning to my pre-football/ pre-hurrican sense of routine. I declared on Saturday to Green Bean that I would take all of Sunday for myself, even "calling in" to my mother on Saturday night to tell her I would not be meeting her for church the next morning. While my plans were to sleep in and be lazy all day, things never turn out like you plan them to be. I woke rather early but forced myself to stay in bed until almost 9:00AM, drank coffee, read, went to the market, cooked a few things for dinner this week, watched a lifetime movie or two (both were about student-teacher drama), cleaned my refrigerator, did three loads of laundry, watched a little football, read the newspaper, met Heidi at the gym for a brief workout, caught up with a friend on the phone, had take out for dinner with a friend and ended the evening watching Juno. I failed to clean my apartment and clean out my car which were on the top of the to do list for weeks now. Both have been seriously neglected. Maybe Friday I will get to those since I scheduled myself a vacation day. With a short work week ahead, I am sure these three days will be action-packed at the office BUT the Saints are on Monday Night Football AND I have lunch plans with Green Bean today! Not a bad way for the week to begin...

this picture just made me laugh and want to see Little Miss Sunshine again!

Blog neglected

I have been too busy with work and life in general to keep the blog updated.
In recap:
1. Nothing too exciting that I had to stop everything and blog!
2. LSU football is in the tank!
3. Work is insane!
4. K Keen and her BF (Jim) were in town last weekend to enjoy some football festivities!
5. Natalie made the most delicious oatmeal cookies at her Saturday night BBQ (post recipe for all, Nat Rat)! Oh and K-Fed was in town last weekend too!!
6. No news on necklace post and wish coming true!
7. Green Bean hosted Italian Night last night (cooked spaghetti and watched Casino); I was only able to stay for dinner due to the amount of work I brought home last night!
8. Tonight I will watch a movie with Heidi after work (can't be clear on when "after work" is exactly)!
9. My neighbor, Brian, may be moving away from S Town :( !
10. I have had a ton of quality time with my parents these past few weeks (laundry at their place, nights stayed over to early vote or just too tired to drive home after having dinner with them etc., dinner with Dad while Mom travels etc.)
11. Fall Sunday in the Park series is over :( !
12. See #11...now I have NO EXCUSE not to clean this filthy apartment on my one day off each week. AND I need to move the furniture Holly Bof is housing for me in her extra bedroom over to my place!
13. I had a date with Sheirdan and Sarah last Thursday!
14. Sheridan needs to return the P-Touch!
15. I need to pay Sheridan for her work with the P-Touch she did about five months ago for Papa Murphy's!
16. I am in NO WAY ready for this holiday season (although I took the day after Thanksgiving off from work and am thinking of taking 12/24-1/4 off too - doubt that one will be granted)!
17. Pandora isn't working so well this early morning!
18. Need to get to the gym before this boring list says anymore about my boring life!!!
Photos from last couple of weeks: (in no particular order - Green Bean, Erik, K-Fed, Nat Rat, Mom, Kristen)