Looking Up

Things are really going well, and I'm happy! My dad is getting to go home from the hospital today--for anyone who was wondering. Marissa came yesterday and we got to go watch the Tigers win, and then watch the UT-WKU game, which was really good. Good, fun basketball with my sister...get much better than that-I don' t think so! Now, I'm in the home stretch of my last semester of actual college (next semester is student teaching) and it's not so stressful. Last week definitely was, but now it's just tests that I don't really have to do all that well on, so I'm liking that! Once I'm done listening to my music for my jazz exam, I'm downloading my first Christmas music and that makes me happy! Hooray for holiday spirit!!

Christmas Get to Know You

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper is so much more fun.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. My mom and I have had many a fight over this. I cried the year we got a fake tree.....

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Right after New Year's.

5. Do you like egg nog? Never had it. Why? Because it sounds gross.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My pink dance bag with ballerina slippers on it and my name embroidered.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Well, no.

8. Hardest person to buy for? How about everybody. I don't get to go shopping because Vanderbilt makes me go to school until Christmas day.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My sister.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I had really intended to do cards this year, too....

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The list is kind of long and might offend some people I love, so let's just say that I don't love all of the things I get ;-)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's A Wonderful Life and White Christmas (it's a tie)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Ideally, the day after Thanskgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Does giving it to Goodwill count?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Breakfast casserole from my Mimi or dressing from my Mamaw (okay, we eat that a Thanksgiving, but still...)

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear. I know that colored ones are festive, but my mother has taught me to associate them with tackiness.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

18. Travel at Christmas? If home to Memphis counts.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. Oh and Rudolph. Is that all of them?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents? Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Not having time to enjoy it because I'm in school/Chicago.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love our tree at home. It's very old school kind of Victorian, with all kinds of handmade ornaments from when I was little. I hope my own tree looks like it someday :-)

24. What do you want for Christmas? Christmas is the only day of the year when I like surprises.

Life is Good

This weekend I went up to Knoxville for the UT-Vandy game and Koro's birthday. It was lot of fun (minus the outcome of the game--UT 25 Vandy 24). I had to sit in the UT student section because I waited too late to buy a ticket in the Vandy section. That really wasn't fun. I felt bad the whole time because I really hate it when people do that at Vandy games! People were generally nice and good-natured about it, but I still felt bad. There wasn't really "a play" that we lost on, but it was an overall big comeback by UT and we didn't match it. This next week will be interesting hearing about bowl eligibility and such....I really hope we get to go to one, but at this point it looks unlikely at best. Overall, I heard Rocky Top more times than I can count and after a while the orange didn't set off my gag reflex ;-)

Aside from the game, I had a great time. I got to meet Koro's girlfriend Kati, and she is amazing. I really do love her. We played Disney Scene-it on Friday night and I discovered how much I actually DON'T know about Disney movies. It was fun though. I really like his friends up there. They are really nice and fun to hang out with! It's to the point now that I don't feel like I'm going up there just to see the people I went to high school with, but to see all of them! After the game on Saturday we went out to eat for Koro's birthday, where I got to see Madeline and Laurel and Katie Stokes and Elizabeth. I didn't get to sit by them, but I did get to talk to them for a little while, which was exciting! Then, some of us went out in Knoxville to continue the birthday celebration. I really had a great time and I'm SO glad I got to go!

I promise to update more often....I swear!

Yankees Suck

Did anyone notice that the Red Sox just won the World Series? Probably not, because the Yankees can't stand not to be the center of attention. I think that there should be some sort of mandatory waiting period for people to make major announcements after the World Series. There kind of is now, because teams have to get approval to hold a press conference during the series, but who says they have to hold a press conference to steal the show? The Yankees did not make a formal announcement, but told people that they had offered the job to Joe Girardi.

I always liked Joe Girardi. I thought he was a good guy and a pretty good player. Not so much anymore. Re-associating yourself with the Yankees by choice makes you a not good person in my book. The first time it could be said that he really didn't have a choice. This time, he could have managed in several other organizations, but chose the one that operates unethically. Guess I'm not such a fan of him anymore.

So, now Alex Rodriguez. Jerk. Actually, it's probably more accurate to say that Scott Boras, his agent, is the jerk. That's his reputation. He gets the money for his clients (and himself), and some would say he's the biggest jerk in all of professional sports. But he gets the job done, so I suppose there's something to be said for that. But making an announcement that his (arguably) biggest client is opting out of his contract DURING a World Series game is downright dirty. In some ways, I believe he and ARod should be fined for doing this. It wasn't just "bad timing". In fact, we have every reason to believe that it was perfectly timed. That was absolutely inappropriate and disrespectful. If the Red Sox sign Alex Rodriguez (which I don't see happening), I would have a real problem with that, after what he did during the game in which the clinched the World Series title.

They said on ESPN today that if ARod gets the kind of contract he wants, it will be somewhere around $300 million for 8 years. The work year for professional baseball players is somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 days (the same as for teachers). ARod would make approximately $164,000 PER DAY. That's over 4xs what I will make in a year as a teacher. At least I can confidently say that I will be making a difference and providing a descent and positive role model for children, as ARod claims to do.

The combination of these two major events prompted an hour long special called "A Dynasty in Transition" on ESPN. They ran it all day yesterday. Too bad the special couldn't be on the amazing season the Boston Red Sox had. At least lil ole me can give them their props. Congrats Red Sox!!

Dead Elvis Week

For those of you who are unaware, Elvis died 30 years ago today. And Memphis is having a party. Thousands of people from all over the world (we're talking like almost 100,00o people) come here to celebrate Elvis. It's kind of ridiculous. All of these people refer to it as "Elvis Week". Memphians call it "Dead Elvis Week". An important distinction really. If you don't know the story about how he died, you should Google it. It's funny.

Usually, I miss all of this craziness because I'm back at school, but not this time. The only sad part of this week will happen tonight when there's a candlelight vigil. The rest of the week consists of lots of parties, a 5k race, movies galore, fireworks, tribute concerts, an art show, and even more stuff (Dale Earnhart, Jr. even made an appearance). Oh, and a TON of people who aren't from the States. One couple from Scotland even got married at Graceland. Whoa.

Now, if you "ain't from 'round here", the 105+ degree heat can cause a problem. Today, a lady actually died celebrating Elvis' death. I know it's not funny and heat is a serious problem and all, but this lady was so determined to celebrate Elvis that she didn't take a second to drink some water and sit down. Seriously?

The best part of my week was that we went to the baseball game on Saturday, where the kickoff for Elvis week was held. The game was really, really good. And then there was a really cool fireworks show set to Elvis songs. Some of them I hadn't heard before, so I got a bit of Elvis education and appreciation.

So that's enough of my Elvis stuff. That all sounded very not nice...I do love Elvis, but find this level of worship to be a bit out of control. I'm excited to come to VANDY in 5 days!!

Summertime

I don't quite know why, but life is good right now. Of course, there's a lot of stuff to complain about, but I haven't felt much like complaining lately. That's a first. Since I got back, there has been a little bit of work, but not so much. Last week I worked afternoons at the daycare I worked at last summer. This week, I am doing some mornings at my dad's band camp. Oh, high school clarinet players...

Mainly, I've just been doing a lot of TV watching (I'm currently enjoying a new "The First 48"....yes!). Tomorrow, I'm going to Fall Creek Falls to see Betsy and Lauryn, who I was in England with. I'm really excited about going away, but even more excited to see them. We had the best time in England!

I just want my friends from here at home to actually come back!! Everybody is gone somewhere--I haven't seen anyone yet, which is kind of sad. I know that I said no complaints, but I suppose that is my one complaint ;-)

I'm baaaaack!!!

Since I'm back from Cambridge now, I will start posting on this blog again. Hopefully I will be better at this one than I was at my England blog ;-) Since I've been back, I've just been working and doing a little unpacking. The jet lag was nowhere NEAR as bad as it was going to England. That was a relief! For anyone who might be wondering about my previous post, my grandmother is doing really well. I haven't been able to see her since I got back, but I have talked to her on the phone. She had a mastectomy right before I left and is now on medication instead of radiation and chemo. That was really great news. Hopefully, I will get to see her soon. Thanks to everyone for the prayers and positive thoughts for our family.

Since I am back at work at the preschool I worked at last summer, there are soooo many cute kid stories coming your way. Those of you familiar with the little boy who managed to make my life hell last summer will appreciate this story. This same boy was sitting in time-out today (his usual perch), and decided he wanted to chat with me. It went a little something like this:

Him: "Ms. Ashley, where's your husband?"
Me: "Well, I'm not married..."
Him: "Then why are you working?!?!"

I think he was a bit confused...


Can't wait to see everyone soon!!!