Tick Tock Tick Tock

Isn’t it funny how at 60 seconds can seem like the longest amount of time on earth and other times it’s way too short. Life is full of waiting, times when time seems not to be moving – or at least life’s not moving with time. Then there’s days when you wake up and realize that the memory you were just thinking about was actually 7 years ago!!!

In Philosophy of Religion that I took nearly two years ago (seems like a few months ago) we talked about whether we believe God exists inside or outside of time. I concluded that God exists outside of it, but as proven by history can step into it. (Jesus)

I want to exist outside of time. I want to not worry. And the more I think about it most of my worries and stress are time related, perhaps not on the surface but time plays a factor. I worry about money because I need it for future bills or other future needs. I stress over starting a family, my marriage, and so many other things – because of what might happen in the future or things that happened in the past.

Why do we feel that we have to measure our lives by time? By age such and such I should have done so and so. Ten years from now everything will be fine. Oh to be whatever age again when life was carefree.

Time consumes us. Literally, we’re eaten up one day at a time. I know in my head that it’s silly to worry about tomorrow or even yesterday – that all we have is right now. I wish I could teach that to my heart, my soul, to the thing in me that spends so much time wishing for things to be different, wishing for the future to be here now, wishing that I had done things differently in the past.

I can’t touch yesterday and tomorrow’s not certain. I want to learn to live right now. Not to think – ok I have an hour before such and such happens so I’ll just fill my time with something useless until then. Reliant K said it best in their song More Than Useless, “My datebook is packed full of days that were empty and now gone.” I’m tired of having empty days filled with nothing.

I don’t know how to fix it, though. Even now I’m counting minutes until Kevin gets home, days until I go to Tallahassee, months until we finally feel settled somewhere, and years for dreams to come true. I don’t want to be Hook – haunted by the ticking of the clock inside the crock that’s waiting to eat me. But, I don’t know how to get to the place Peter Pan found – where time stood still and he was a boy forever.

Tagged

Thanks so much lisa b. I have lots of different things blog about, but tonight i'm so congested and miserable I'll finally answer the tag. So I am supposed to share 6 things little-known facts about myself.

1 - I had radiation poisoning from the Chernobyl explosion when I lived in Europe as a child.

2 - I am extremely terrified of rodents. I am unashamed to stand on chairs and scream like a little girl.

3 - I have never been able to do a cartwheel or a flip - even now that i'm married to a gymnastics instructor.

4 - I prefer to eat nearly all vegetable's raw - corn, green beans, broccoli, green peppers, etc.

5 - I went to 11 different schools from Kindergarten to High school

6 - I'm so obsessed with Jane Austin novels that I named my dog after two of her characters: Elinor from Sense & Sensibility and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice.

and now...I'm tagging Kevin because he likes to make me blog and then never blogs himself!

For some people "home" is easy to define. It's where they grew up or where they live now. I have lots of homes. A home is waiting for me in a mansion some day. My earthly homes are more meager though. But of all the places I call or have called home, I have to say that right where I am seems to really fit.
It is so rich here. We have a great little townhouse. The people are friendly and strangers stop you to say hello. There's country charm in abundance. Beauty surrounds you on every hill side and the warm breeze carries with it the smell of wild flowers (or so I imagine since I don't actually have the ability to smell anything).
We spent yesterday exploring our wonderful, new home town. We began with a trip to the local farmers market. I went with every intention of buying everything from locally grown, organic produce to milk and eggs from the farms I pass by everyday on my way home. Turns out local farmers charge a lot for products like milk and eggs (about twice as much.) We did buy some green beans, potatoes, and squash though. After eating some green beans last night I can definitely taste and see why organic, local produce is infinitely better. I just wish our pockets were infinitely deeper so we could afford to buy the other products sold there like milk, eggs, cheese, and meat. Oh well.
After the farmers market we went to the Factory. The Factory began in life as a stove factory. Like all stove factories, I imagine, it dreamt of being something cooler. Now, 50 years later, in the prime of its life it is an awesome little shopping center and home to two churches (and the weekly farmers market camps out in its parking lot). Our church is located in one of the buildings, but most of the shops are closed on Sunday. Actually, most of the town is closed on Sunday. So yesterday we took a walk through. It’s filled to the brim with local crafts, arts, artisan guitars, fancy little restaurants, and an awesome antique dealer. I could have spent a lot of money there yesterday.

After the factory we took a four block trip to down town Franklin. Again, a place filled with cutie-pie shops, fun places to eat, and loads of charm. I found my new favorite clothing shop, though I think none of the clothes in there will fit my largeness. It’s called Philanthropy and its tag line is “Clothing with Compassion.” The store’s filled with awesome products, many of which have portions of the proceeds going to awesome causes like Hands and Feet and Sudan. There was even paper made of recycled Elephant poo. I also found a place where I scored (well a future score) a free hair cut. They need participants to come and get their hair cut so they can train their “Apprentices.” Fancy!
We ate at Puckett’s. Puckett’s is the quintessential definition of Franklin. It’s a replica, filled with authenticity. Franklin is home to the bloodiest battle of the civil war, and one of the last battles of the war. It was here that the Confederates decided they can’t keep up with the Union and should call it quits. Or something to that effect – American history is not my bag. Anyways, there is an original Puckett’s grocery and restaurant in Leiper’s Fork, a nearby farming community. This place has been around since forever – before supermarkets were the trend. It’s a place where you could go pick up what you didn’t grow on your farm and grab a bite to eat while you catch up with other folk. Now there’s a smaller version in downtown Franklin. It’s history and modernity all rolled up into a delicious glass of sweet tea and a yummy burger.

This is Puckett’s, Franklin. They still sell groceries; they’re on the wall behind us.


Our church, located inside the Factory. It’s way cool!

One of the farms on our way to Franklin

There are all these “dry” stone walls, a lot of which have been here since the battle of Franklin.


Downtown Franklin.


This is my favorite picture. Kevin took it yesterday, and I think the angles make it look all artsy. These history signs are about every 10 steps. The civil war history here is sort of a big deal.


This is what I mean about Franklin. Here’s a 100 year old+ building with a Starbucks in it. It’s unique – as in odd.

CONGESTION GO AWAY!!!

I was supposed rerecord the voicemail to include myself on the list of extensions today at work. The unfortunate thing is that once again for the millionth day in a row I'm completely congested. To make it even worse my 15 letter full name consists of almost all consonants. It's nearly impossible to say!! Bs, Ds, and Ts don't work when I'm congested! AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTHING WORKS to get rid of this!! Take allergy pills some suggest. The problem: I was tested for allergies in October(!) for this very problem and I'm not allergic to anything!!!!!!!!!! What the crap! So the pills don't work. Decongestants over the counter don't work. Nasal Sprays and Sinus rinses work for two seconds and then the old schnoz reacts with a vengeance. I'm to the point where I'm ready to use a coat hanger to rip out my sinuses! With my luck I'd get some horrible face infection from the unclean coat hanger. RATS! I probably should go see a doctor, but alas we have no health insurance and it's not like I'm going to die.

On a happy note - my job is practically perfect. I get to play with brochures all day, talk on the phone, and best of all: build nerdy databases that impress people. That's right I spent half my day in Excel heaven making the graphs coordinate to the season they represented. Pure nerdy bliss! Plus - we found a Wingstop not too far away, but I think only Kevin and Krista will understand the happiness found there.

Pictures tomorrow, I promise. Once again the camera stayed home while I went to work.

Excuse me, I think you have my stapler...

After what seems like eons of waiting I finally have a job! I am the new Office Manager for the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Yes, I am aware that's the longest name for a company ever - especially since I have to say the FULL thing every time I answer the phone and add a snappy greeting, well at least my name gets added. The new job is in the heart of historic Franklin - a cutie pie town. Think Havana, FL then add modern shops and fun restaurants.

I find it somewhat hysterical that I work for the Visitors Bureau in a county I've lived in for only a month. People called in today with questions and I had to research every answer. I feel badly for this poor tourist who called: "Where's the vineyard?" Uhm...let's find out together shall we, I mumble under my breath as I quickly Google the answer. "Doesn't one of Brooks and Dunn own the vineyard?" Uhm..."I think I remember reading that." Who are Brooks and Dunn? Arg...why do I have to loathe country music so?

The Williamson County CVB (as those on the inside say) has never before had an Office Manager. This is both good and bad. It's good because I'm not compared to some former guru that could hula while simultaneously perfectly answering tourist questions and creating exceptional charts. It's bad because there is no answer. How do you transfer a call? No one knows. They've only had the phone system for a few short months. How should I order these items that are needed? No one has a great answer - no company cards, no company checks, no petty cash. It's all brand spanking new! I'm sure in a month I've have them all straightened out - that's what I do best. In the mean time I'll wade through the mountain of brochures that are on my desk.

There are several perks that come with the job. A major perk - I get to see all the touristy stuff for free. Also, when there's big events going on, I get to not be chained to my desk and go play with the rest of the town. Plus, I got to meet the Mayor and his staff today. He's kind of a big deal in these parts. Finally, I get to find out where all the stars live. This leads me to my golden nugget of information I got today. I LIVE LESS THAN 5 MINUTES FROM BILLY RAY CYRUS. I know! You're all jealous of me now. I get to rub elbows with the king of mullets.

One more thing to tag on from today - my new boss took me to lunch today. The place where we ate was an actual GROCERY STORE / RESTAURANT Combo. That's right, here in the heart of Williamson County, home of Christian Music and Country "Stars" you can pick up your groceries and have a decent lunch at the same time. Who has time to waste going to a grocery and then a restaurant? Silly city folk! You can get your snow shovel and your fried chicken platter and be back in your office within the hour. Now that's fine country living!

Pictures to come tomorrow - I forgot the camera today.