Happy Labor-less Day!

HAPPY LABOR DAY BLOG LAND!!!!

For many, although it's still sweltering outside, today signals the end of the summer. Pools are closing, summer clothes are on clearance at stores (yay), and by now almost all the kids are back to school.

Usually my Labor Day weekend is nothing special. I usually just lay around the house, clean, catch up on sleep, or all of the above. While I was able to do all of those things, I was also able to cross another item off of my 30 Before 30 Bucket List! YAAAAY!!

My sister and I kicked the weekend off at the Louisville Palace Theatre. I believe I may have mentioned a few posts back that they were having an Alfred Hitchock film festival. Jess couldn't figure out how to get into the parking garage right across from the Palace....so we rode around the blocks surrounding 4th street for at least 10 minutes. After numerous wrong turns, full circles, and near wrecks as we attempted to enter through the exit lanes of various closed parking garages....we finally settled on one down the street and around the corner, which required us to walk past a shady looking establishment that flashed "GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS" in neon pink.

Praise the Lord for the buddy system. Bahahahaha.

Anyway. We were late. Have I mentioned that I hate being late?

The movie had already started when we finally walked through the doors to see Mr. Hitchcock's legendary Psycho. Fortunately, it hadn't gotten very far. We own the movie. But there was something about seeing it on the big screen that really made me appreciate the suspense and the outstanding cinematography. Most of the people there were fellow Hitchcock enthusiasts. Yet, during the scene in which the private detective is walking up the stairs (to meet his death), the entire theatre jumped and screamed when Norman/Mother came flying down wielding that famous knife. Ha.

We enjoyed every minute of it.






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As is tradition in Louisville on the last weekend of August, it was time for....Worldfest! And after being unable to go for the last few years, I was finally able to make it. And so, I check that off of my 30 Before 30 Bucket List!

It takes place on the Belvedere, right next to the River and the Galt House. As soon as you turn the corner you are bombarded by colors, music, and the smells of all kinds of different culture's foods. There are two stages on which people of all different cultures preform song, music, and dance. We saw a Vietnamese Lion Dance, African Dancers, Latino music and dance, and belly dances from India, Hawaii, and Tribal Fusion.

Did I mention there was SO MUCH FOOD?!! I ended up eating an authentic Greek Gyro! A party for my taste buds it was!!! Ah! It was SO MUCH fun!! I probably would have had even more fun if I had at least a hundred bucks to blow on the vendors stands. So many beautiful clothes, trinkets, scarves, beauty products and in such bright and beautiful colors!

In short, I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my long weekend.

Thank the Lord for random Monday holidays!

How have you spent the long weekend Blog Land?

:)

Learned Right

On this day 26 years ago...a red skinned little girl with a head full of thick black hair was born. Can you guess who this little rascal was? Ok, ok...I know ya'll all know it was me. Ha.

Yes...today is my Birthday...

I must admit that it feels a little strange to think that I'm on the downward slope of my 20s. At the risk of sounding incredibly cliched, I must ask the question..."Where has the time gone?" So much has happened in the last 6 years....It's been a long process, but I can say that maybe, just maybe...I'm finally settling into...well...Me.

Trust and believe I'm still growing and changing as an individual....I still have moments of intense dislike with who I am or how things are going...but thankfully, these moments are getting shorter and shorter each time they sneak up on me. Overall I'm amazed at the goodness of my life.

Also! I'm pleased to say that I have been able to cross 3 things off of my 30 Before 30 bucket list! Yes...I must say that 25 was good to me. It's been a whirlwind of a year and I've accomplished some very significant things. All glory goes to the LORD. Without him I wouldn't have been able to do any of it.

I'm happy, content, and glad to be celebrating another birthday.

I'm glad that my life has been filled with wonderful people like you, dear followers. Thank you for the encouragement over this last year and the prayers.

Enjoy this song from Brave...it's light and it makes me smile....because scars are healing and even when I've done wrong...I've been put right.

Drama Junkies

Citizens of Blog Land, I've neglected you!

It seems like every time I write a new post I'm apologizing for the length of time that has passed between posts. Haha. What can I say? Life is so busy. Exhausting. Full. Wonderful. I'm not making any promises, but in the future I shall try to do better...*wink wink*.

Anywho...

My Mom always told me that it takes all kinds of people to make up this crazy world...and having been lately thrust into the corporate arena, that little nugget of truth has never been more apparent. Being the extremely laid back person that I am, it never ceases to amaze me how adult individuals over 40 years of age still have the capacity to be such drama junkies.

Seriously people...do your jobs, address issues as they arise instead of talking about someone behind their back, keep it professional, be genuine, and be kind. Is it that difficult? For some....apparently it is.

By no means am I claiming to be perfect. There are people who, as I've gotten to know them better over the last 2 months, have gotten under my skin. I've learned who is two faced and who can keep confidences. I've learned who I can trust and who I cannot. The key, in my humble opinion, is to remember that we are all there for the same reason, and that we're all a team and should be working together to meet our business goals. Who cares that so and so gets on my nerves? What does that have to do with me doing my job? Absolutely nothing.

But maybe that's just me. I hate conflict. I hate confrontation.

Thankfully, none of the interoffice conflicts have touched me. I stay in my little corner of the office and try not to say a word. But I hear the complaining and backbiting that goes on. It's mind boggling.

Still love the job, though! People however....are flippin' nuts!

The 4th and Other Important Dates

Happy 4th of July people of Blog Land!

And what a rainy 4th it has turned out to be. Actually, what a rainy 2 weeks this has turned out to be. I can't remember the last time we've had so much rain in June or July. Thankfully, the office is closed today (and tomorrow) and I've planted my my ample behind on the couch, slid the patio door open just wide enough to hear the drops hitting the ground and to hear the birds singing in the rain. I have my book, my coffee, and my phone on the table beside me and I plan on staying here for the larger part of the day.

The first week in July has always been busy since our church has it's annual international convention. This year it started on Sunday and tonight is the last service. I work with the kids over in the Fellowship Hall in a program called Trailblazers. It's always fun, but this year has been especially exhausting. Late nights mixed with early mornings and 9 hour work days....whew!

This week has also proven to be emotionally exhausting since the 2nd was the birthday of someone whom I care about immensely but cannot have in my life, and the 3rd marked the 2 year anniversary of my Granny's death.

I'm amazed that it's only been 2 years because it seems like SO much longer. Every family gathering, every dinner, every cookout, and every holiday her absence is keenly felt. It seems like we've gone an eternity without her. I miss her more today than ever.

I was cleaning out a drawer in my night stand the other day and I found a note that she had written. I immediately recognized her sprawling cursive and felt like I had been given a precious gift. Every once in a while, I take out some scarves of hers that I have carefully folded and kept in a little box. They still smell like her and for a few beautiful minutes, I can imagine that I'm sitting with my head in her lap. Goodness, I miss her.

On a decidedly less somber note, the 3rd also marked my 1 month anniversary at the new job! It's hard to believe that I've been there that long already. The days and weeks have flown by. I've learned so much, but still have so much to learn. I'm gradually getting to know everyone else in the office and am becoming more and more comfortable with them. Tuesday was the head attorney's birthday and our escrow manager organized a surprise party for him. We all pitched in and brought side dishes. I expected everyone to scatter and sit at their desks to eat, but we all sat in the board room around the huge table. We sat and talked and ate and just generally enjoyed each other's company. It really did feel like a family gathering. I loved it. I'm so thankful that the LORD placed me there!

My book is calling my name....I'll leave you with a romantical song that perfectly describes my lack of a love life....just because it wouldn't be a true blog land post if I didn't make some vague and tragic reference to it....this is LITERALLY my story put to music. Enjoy :D

He Drew from her Lips...A Broken Hallelujah

It's been a while since I've participated in a Trifecta challenge. Trying to get back in the groove. 

This weekend's prompt is the phrase, " Third time's the charm". Since this is the Trifextra Weekend Challenge it must contain 33 words exactly. 

Happy Reading. 

Letter sent.  It contained her heart. Neglected. In disrepair. His reply came. Her hope splintered. Shattered.  "Without  you, I'm fine". Dear God. Again? Third time's the charm, they'd said. She'd hoped. They'd lied. 

*Title of this post is a reference to Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright.

The Deep End

A few posts ago, as I shared the passing of my graduation, I promised to reveal some other exciting news. I announced this at my Graduation Party a few weeks back, and then quite honestly, forgot to announce here on the blog. As of today, I have officially completed my first week as a real estate paralegal!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen of Blog Land. I landed a job in my field. 3 days after graduation. No one has been more surprised at this than me. With the economy and job markets being as they are, I expected it to take at least 6 months to a year to find something in my field.

It happened like this.

I received a call from my contact at the Louisville Bar Association on the Monday before Graduation. He had just received a call from a mid-sized firm in the East End and was wondering if I was interested. There were two positions open, a receptionist position and a paralegal position. I scheduled the interview for the next day. The day of Graduation.

 In the world of law, and even more in the world of real estate, time really is money. The interview lasted for all of about 10 minutes. I really didn't think much of it. My lack of experience was clear to the attorney I had interviewed with and I wasn't expecting a call back. If I did receive a call back, I was preparing myself mentally for it to be for the receptionist position.

Wednesday I heard nothing back, but Thursday evening I received a call from the attorney himself asking me to come in for a 2nd interview the next morning. I was amazed. This interview lasted for about an hour as he talked at length about what my responsibilities would be, described the fast paced environment of the business, took me on a tour of the office, introduced me to the 2 paralegal supervisors as well as the VP of the company. When we returned to his office and sat down, he leaned back in his plush chair and offered me the job of real estate paralegal.

I accepted. These are the wonderful works of God and they are marvelous in my eyes!

So this last week has been nerve-wracking, overwhelming, and wonderful as I was thrust into the world of real estate. My nickname around the office this week quickly became "The Sponge" as I sat behind my supervisor listened, wrote notes furiously, did hands on practice, and asked numerous questions. At noon yesterday, the VP, Russ, stopped by and asked me to see him. When I sat down in his office he asked me quickly how things were coming along and how I was doing with everything. When I explained that all was well, that it was a lot of info to take in, but that I was slowly catching on....he replied with, "Good. Next week we'll get you settled into your own desk and throw you into the deep end".

Oh Lawd. LOL.

This time next week I may not be so enthusiastic about my quick success in finding this job. Or rather, on having this job fall into my lap. Ha.

Anywho. So that's the story on the job situation. God has blessed me tremendously and continues to do so. All the glory goes to Him. It's not because of anything that I've done, but it is His Grace and I know that He blesses me for His Name's Sake.

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. -I Samuel 12:22

Blog Land, consider yourself updated on the Wonderland Adventures. I covet your prayers as I navigate my way through this new season in my life!

Biblio--what?!

BIBLIOPHILE:(n)a person who collects or has a great love of books. 

In the last, oooh, I'd say 2 1/2 weeks, I've started and finished 2 books, and I've just started another. There are those who just don't get it. How people can stand to read, just because they want to...not because they're being forced to. Well...I am...a....you guessed it...a bibliophile, and an unrepentant one at that. I spend a ridiculous amount of money on books and I can spend hours in the bookstore. 

Why not go to the library? It's free.

And that, my friends, is what separates a lover of reading from a bibliophile. Bibliophiles not only love to read books, but to collect them as well. There are those who just have to have a book in it's hardback version. Others who prefer soft covers. Those who must have first editions. And those like me, who don't particularly care. I will say, though, that a hard cover is not my first choice. Firstly because, they're usually much larger than the soft covered additions, and therefore, don't fit as well into my purse....ha; and secondly, because they're always much more expensive.

But really...as long as it's a book that I can hold in my hands to touch, feel, and smell...I'm happy.

I know that I've written about her before, but Cathy Lamb is one of my favorite authors. She has this ability to write things that are so funny I find myself literally laughing out loud. Anyone who can do that, has a gift.

Her newest book, A Different Kind of Normal, tells the story of a boy born with an abnormally large head, due, probably, to his mother's drug use during the pregnancy. The boy is raised by his aunt, who at his birth was a young 19 years old. Lamb tells the story brilliantly. Joining the past and present of the character's lives to give a complete and rounded story. It is a story of "letting go" and redefining what is "normal". And it's hilarious.

I loved it.

If you're interested in reading this book or any others by Cathy Lamb, I would encourage you to slide on over to the Book Nook page of this blog. Summer's a-coming and you'll find plenteous provender for your pool-side reading needs!

Watch out though....you may turn into a bibliophile yourself! 

Happy Reading!