BULLETS!

Random.

• A second female companion of Bobby Petrino has been revealed.  She's a 26-year-old "Republican bikini model" as described by the Arkansas Times.  Oh Bob, we should've never given you that $18 million buyout. 
• I like how I said "we" like I had a part in that decision.
• Republican bikini model just means that she's annoying.
• I've been shadowed all week by a student in the HIM program all week.  It's been a pretty great experience.  I've discovered the things I'm good at and the things that I still need to work on. I've also discovered that I enjoy talking to students way more than I enjoy talking to doctors. 
• Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench III, Ron Blair, Scott Thurston, and Steve Ferrone will be in town next weekend.  Rejoice.
• Today is my friend and former roomate Brad's birthday.  I will have a root beer and slice of pizza in your honor, sir.
• My wife is awesome.
• My band is awesome.
• My life, for the most part, is awesome.

Empty threats and copied keys...

I saw these lovely people in Nashville a few months back.  Kathleen blows me away with her voice and her clever writing.  The fella playin' that lovely, autographed laden guitar is Gord Tough.  That's his real freakin' name.  The lady singing the harmonies is Hannah Georgas who opened for Kathleen at the show I attended.  If you're needing a break this afternoon, then this is for you.

Special thanks to NPR.

It was the happiest day of my life...

There are moments from Saturday that will forever remain in my mind. Seeing Faith being brought down the aisle by her (and now my) father was such an incredible sight. She was the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. The night before we’d had a lovely time at the rehearsal dinner hearing stories from our families and friends and seeing how excited they were about our marriage. It’s such a lovely coincidence to make your family proud of you simply for falling in love with a person that you want to spend the rest of your life with. Faith and I have been a part of each other’s families for a while now, but it was nice to have them all in the same room together.

Let’s get back to Saturday. When Faith’s dad reached out and shook my hand before handing me his daughter he looked me in the eye and said “We love you.” He then placed Faith’s hand in mine and she and I proceeded to enter the covenant of marriage in front of God and so many friends and family members. The service was beautiful. The music was perfect. The décor was wonderfully personal. Our wedding party stood tall and looked great : ) At the reception I saw so many faces I didn’t expect to see. So many people traveled long distances just to witness our marriage. I tried my best to see everyone I could! I wanted to thank every single person for being there and I hope I got to most. After the reception winded down we stepped out into the courtyard for photos. The weather was incredible! We can’t wait to see those photos!

We left the church and drove, as husband and wife, to the after-party. There was Greek food, dress cutting, laughter, and sitting (probably my favorite part at the time) downstairs in the old pool hall area. Then it was time for us to make the trek upstairs to the Dreamland Ballroom. Faith and I couldn’t have found a better place for an after party. Dreamland is equal parts Faith and Jeff. My sister in-law, brother in-law, and Alana had all helped me set up the ballroom and it looked amazing! My band started playing as the sun went down. It was a wonderful feeling to play on the same stage that Louis Armstrong, Etta James, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, and so many others had played on so many years ago. At the end of our set we played The Beatles’ “Birthday” as a surprise for Faith. I ran to the back and grabbed a confetti cannon I had secretly purchased and ran down next to Faith and sent confetti flying into the air. As it rained down on us, I grabbed my wife and planted a big kiss. We spent the rest of the night dancing and laughing with friends and family. Dad even came and danced a while! It was a magical evening.

I have thought about Saturday a lot over the past three days and I can honestly tell you that it was, by far, the greatest day of my life. I have never felt so incredibly blessed. I can’t wait for every adventure that Faith and I will have. I’m so lucky to have her.

(Pictures to arrive in about a month)

Lis(z)t

11:23 p.m. Tuesday night.  I can't sleep so I'll try and get everything in my brain out into the open.

1. Faith and I will be married in approximately four months!  It's really a wonderful thing to come home to someone who loves you.  I can't wait to start doing husband-y things like fixing the sink, washing the dog, and being a great cook.  I'm sure Faith believes I can do all of those things with flawless execution.  
2. Today my coworkers and I went out for lunch.  I feel that we should do this at least once a week.  It's nice to actually get to know the people you're working with.
3. Faith's sister has asked me to make her a mixed CD of music that I enjoy.  My first draft playlist has 49 tracks.  I LOVE making mixed CDs!  Although the last time I made one was for a girl I was interested in who was much younger than I am.  I remember the look on her face when I gave her the CD I had spent so much time on.  It was a look of bewilderment, embarrassment, and pity.  "I don't think I remember the last time I saw a CD" she said.  We dated for two weeks.  
4. My sister and brother in law just got a new puppy.  His name is Charlie.  He is awesome:

     5.  Speaking of my sister, her 10 year high school reunion was a few weekends ago.  This means that my         10 year reunion is coming up in less than a year. Will I go?  Of course I will!  I'm actually looking forward to it.  There's food, prizes, and dancing.  AND you get to see how everybody's visual appearance has changed, which is kind of my favorite part.

    6.  My parents' 31st wedding anniversary is at the end of this month.  If you've met them, you should be honored.  

   7.  We move in 13 days.  It's really hard to believe that we've been in this house for a year!  So much has happened this past year that I'm  thankful for.  

   8.  I'm considering doing an accelerated degree program after I get my associate's degree.  The director of the department I used to work for recommended it to me.  Basically, I'd get a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration in a little over a year, which would be awesome.  I'll have to work out the difference of cost, but it may just happen.  

  9.  Speaking of school...it's almost over for the semester!  It's been quite an interesting fall!  My brain has been workin' overtime to learn my new job and still have space for asteroids, galaxies, and classical music.  It's kind of fun going back to school at this age and seeing what 18 year olds of today are like.  They aren't much different than I was, I suppose.  They dress nicer, but that's not really saying much.  

  10.  My old buddy Jarrett will be back in the natural state for the first time since August next month.  It'll be good to chat him up.

  11.  My friend Jessi got a new job!  It's very exciting and I'm very proud of her!  She deserved a new job!

  12.  My band, 5 Point Cove, is really hitting on all cylinders.  We had a great show at The Rev Room a few weeks ago, and are looking forward to playing again soon.  We're experimenting with new sounds constantly and I keep trying to write decent lyrics.  It's tough!  Thankfully, decent lyrics aren't a prerequisite to success in the music business anymore.  Although, I don't know that there's really a formula for success in the music business anymore; or even a music business for that matter.

We're now nearing midnight(yes, you and me).  I suppose I should give sleep another try since I need to be up early in the morning.  

This is where the strings come in...

I find myself wanting to exclaim "Look at me!  Look how busy I am!" more and more lately.  I suppose it's because I feel a little guilty for being so incredibly not busy for so long, I want everyone to know that I've actually got things going on now that need my attention.  Perhaps it's because I'm a horribly vain person who desires the attention and approval of others.  Nah, of course not.  

Vanity happens to people of all shapes and sizes.

What used to be a place of work has now become (almost overnight) the foundation of my career in the healthcare field.  It's funny how I started out in the field completely by accident and have slowly worked my way up to a point where I can see this as a valid area to focus my efforts.  I've always told myself that I never really wanted a career, just a job would be quite enough, but now I find myself with 5 years of experience, 5 years of knowledge, and 0 years of any other skill set : )  Now, however, I actually enjoy going to work.  I believe that I feel this way because for the first time in 5 years of employment at the same place I don't feel like this is a dead end job.  There's a hope that if I can make it through a few years in my current position, opportunities for bigger and better positions will open up.  Of course, I could be fired tomorrow.  Suspense!

Of course, you can't get ahead unless you have a college degree, right?  I began college (for the fourth time) this past August and have been trying my hardest to stay afloat while working full time.  I know tons of people have done the same thing, I just wish I could talk to those people so they could give me tips on how to still be able to see your family and friends!  Apart from a late night "I love you" before strapping on the CPAP mask and falling asleep, I rarely get to see my fiance during the week.  I get to see my friends about as often as there's a large get together that's being thrown, and we're lucky to get those scheduled once a month because, of course, everyone else is quite busy too!  

I suppose this is the time in my life where I'm supposed to realize that I'm an adult now who's supposed to do adult things like be too busy for things like everybody else is.  November will be here and gone before I know it.  Work, school, band practice, out of town trips for the first and second weekend, moving, my sister's birthday, thanksgiving, my parent's anniversary, razorback games, etc. etc. etc. lie ahead.  Please wave if you see me running by.

Oh look!  A picture of me!

Goooooooooooal!!!!

I am happy to announce that I've accomplished one my goals...

I am now current on all of my student loans!

Mohela, Campus Partners, and American Education Services should send me a thank you card.

Now to conquer more goals!!

When I was younger...

The following is a photo taken in late 2002:

I am apparently trying to crush Valerie's shoulder.

Look at that young man's face!  He's thin, he's smiling, his haircut isn't that awful, AND he's having the time of his life.  

Life as a college freshman was quite an eye opening experience.  It was something that transmogrified a bright, painfully shy, somewhat closed minded young man into a bright, slightly less painfully shy, much less closed minded young man.  I met some wonderful people.  I took a couple of interesting classes.  I made lasting friendships.  If given the chance to do it all over again, there are very few things I would change. 

After my freshman year, I had a decision to make.  My academic performance was less than stellar(ha!), and my once large scholarship would be cut in half if I returned for another year.  Oh to know then what I know now.  Back then I believed that the only way I was going to be successful was to finish college.  I was convinced that a college degree would guarantee a great job that was life affirming and lucrative.  In my 20 year old mind there was only one option:  go back to school in the coming fall and kick ass!  

I went back.  

I got my ass kicked.

The following photo was taken moments ago:

I wave because I care.  

I am now 26 and I'm a bit heftier, scruffier, and more knowledgeable.  I've learned that not having a college degree won't ruin your life.  I've been working for UAMS for five years this coming September and have managed to secure a nice paycheck.  Of course, a good chunk of that paycheck goes to student loans(over $500 this month alone) and credit card statements(we won't talk about that one).  Had I decided to end my college career after my freshman year, I wouldn't be paying these student loan payments, nor would my credit card bills be at the level they are.  Que sara, sara!

It's not that I don't plan to finish college.  I do.  I just know now that I should have waited on that sophomore year until now.  Would I advise high school seniors against going to college right away?  Never!  Everyone should give freshman year a try and if it works out, keep going.  If you come up short, maybe take a semester off, or a year off, or six years off : )  

Just keep working.