Friday, June 22, 2012

Supper + Song at Imogene + Willie

Nathan and I have decided that Wednesday night is date night! Huzzah! So this past Wednesday we decided to try out a Supper + Song event at the boutique denim store Imogene + Willie.
I found out about this event from the pennyweight blog written by the super chic Elise Yetton, who is even more gorgeous in person and whom I wanted to introduce myself to but we left because I had a terrible headache and was loosing a contact. I know, excuses.
Anyway, it started out great with a super tasty taco from the Mas Tacos truck.
chicken, salsa verde, sour cream, cheese, cilantro.
And yes, that is a Jeni's cart in the background.
We also did a bit of people watching. As I mentioned here, I did my best to fit into the hipster scene. I may or may not have succeeded. You decide.
Photo credit: Imogene + Willie tweet
It was a fun event, other than the issues I was having with my contact and head. Next time we hope to meet up with a few friends so we don't look like such wallflowers there. And I definitely recommend getting there before 6. We barely missed the rush for the taco truck. It was a serious line, but seriously worth it.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

A Mostly Awkward Thursday

For some reason, this week has really pulled out the stops on putting me in the most awkward situations.


- Trying to do anything with a band of screaming children sitting behind you. Hi I'm just a lady sitting at a lonely Panera Bread table. You're totally right, that booth behind me is the perfect choice for your four 2-year olds to sit. Oh, and they all wanted muffins.


- Sharing living space with another couple, namely our landlord. Nuff said.


- Getting to my job interview about 20 minutes early and seeing the whole staff in the conference room directly in view of the elevator. Then going to hide around the corner and in the bathroom for fifteen minutes.


- Changing shoes for said job interview in the parking lot. Don't mind me guy rounding the corner, it's just a leg. Nothing else to see here.


- Walking out from the grocery store and trying to peel my cross shoulder bag off over my head, getting it caught on my earring for about 20 seconds while walking through traffic to my car.


There were however some awesome things!


- Going to Johnson City for The Resolute's show Saturday night.


- Moving in some bedroom furniture today!


- Got a tweet saying that The Black Keys were playing a secret show in Nashville last night. How cool is that? I live in a city with secret rock shows.


- Mas Tacos. Yum.


- I reunite with my puppy again tomorrow night and then bring him back with me Sunday!!!! I've missed my Pico!


Awkward and awesome originated at thedaybookblog.com

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Why we left

I am currently surrounded by a multitude of soccer moms out with their kids probably on the way to the country club to swim for the day. I was told by a friend that Johnson city has a definite aesthetic, especially in the way people dress. I had never noticed. After being in east Tennessee for 8 years it seemed very normal for me to pull on Chacos with a pair of skinny jeans and a fitted tee. Well the Panera Bread Franklin, TN is characterized by moms in fancy workout clothes, Nike skorts and underarmour wick-away tanks, and businessmen in blue gingham button ups and pleated pants. Tonight I will get a taste of the east Nashville hipster scene at the monthly supper and song event at Imogene + Willie. I have done my best to fit in with a maxi skirt and white tee. We shall see. I'm very excited. All that to say, Nathan and I have been asked every time we mention our move, "why?". why leave the comfort of a city we know? Why move to a big city where we have no community, few friends, and no jobs? The answer we have generally given is that it is for the music. So Nathan can pursue his career as a professional musician. The city where he has the best chance of making a living on his greatest skills. But it was so much more than that too. Both of us were at the end of the rope with our jobs. Nathan teaching lessons gave him a weird time schedule, which made it difficult to practice and be social and be together when we wanted. I had worked at the same job for 3 years, all 3 through the recession, and did not see a lot of opportunity to grow. We we're being pushed out by the Holy Spirit. That may sound weird. But when doors close in every aspect, it's time to take notice and make the change. So we left, in a leap of faith we jumped. And God has honored that immensely. We had a place to move into months before we moved, in a safe neighborhood, a convenient location, and very close to the only people I know -upstairs. Nathan was provided a job a couple of weeks before we moved. Even though I haven't found a job yet I've had a couple interviews and all of those after we moved. Anyway, I just wanted to throw this out there. Not we are so blessed and wonderful and happy and so on, but that God is huge. And he loves us enough to provide for us. I do not want for anything, and I can claim the promise that even as he shelters the sparrow he will shelter me.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Working

Well, we have been in Nashville officially for a week and are still working on getting our apartment set up. In the meantime we are living upstairs with our landlords (also good friends). During the day, Nathan goes to work and I get up  water the garden (which I'm super excited about) and then do some work downstairs. Yesterday, and most days before it, that included painting.


Now, painting walls I can handle, but yesterday I bought a can of spray paint and attempted to paint some shelves that go in the open pantry in the kitchen. Before they were all mismatched woods.


Well, I think I discovered that I am the worst spray painter ever. Not only am I terrible at spraying evenly, but my finger gets tired and then it blocks the spray and I get drips all over the shelves.




I am currently watching tutorials on how to do this correctly, but I might go buy a small can of paint anyway. I think I may have used all the paint anyway.


But, I am excited that things are really coming together down there and I think we'll have all the painting finished today and maybe get the floors cleaned up. Then we can move in some on Thursday and Friday! Hooray!

Monday, June 18, 2012

I'm now closer to 30

On Saturday, I celebrated my 26th Birthday! Which means that I am now officially closer to 30 than 20. Whoa.


Nathan and I started off by sleeping in and then heading over to Cracker Barrel. I love Cracker Barrel. It's so deliciously terrible for you but so tasty. I indulged in the Multi-grain Berry Pancakes complete with blackberries, fried eggs, bacon, and coffee.
Yeah, that's what I got. 
Don't be fooled by the "fruit and grain" line at the top of the menu. The pancakes still come with warm maple syrup and a heaping scoop of butter.


Afterwards Nathan carted me around to various music stores to find something musical...I kind of tune that stuff out now.


Later on I went to an unofficial birthday cookout. Meaning, the cookout wasn't at all for me, but Facebook informed many of the attendants of the day's event and the news spread rapidly. Then I went down to Nathan's show at Carver Park where the band announced me as a birthday girl and where Danny, the saxophone player did NOT play me the birthday song. I was disappointed. But I had all these new friends there too :)



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Then we went out for a night on the town with some band members.


So thanks everyone for making the day so eventful and fun!!!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

a few things this week

Well, I am pleased to announce that I had a phone interview, which led to an in person interview. I am very encouraged about getting a response at all after the 50 resumes that I have sent out and the 15 or so positions that I have applied for.


I had an interview today! I think it went okay, Maybe? I was asked some questions that I felt completely unprepared for, and am not feeling super confident about it. I don't even remember the last time I really had to interview for a job.


*update: apparently it's a communication test - that I hope I passed.


But, I do know that God is going to provide for us. Nathan has a job, and I know that I will be able to find something. It's just a weird season of life. This transition. Transitioning into a new apartment. Transitioning into a new city. Transitioning into having no friends around and finding new ones. Transitioning into unemployment and too much free time.


In the meantime, Dillan is staying with my in-laws for the next few days. Because our apartment is kind of unfinished, we did not want to stress the dog out by changing his life so much and have him in the way while we tried to wrap up painting and such.


This is also a super blessing because the little boy has worms. Yes, on Tuesday morning, as Nathan and I were heading out I got a call from my mother-in-law informing me that Dillan pooped out a worm in the kitchen floor...


Thankfully she rules and took care of getting him to the vet and getting him some medicine to rid of those nasty tapeworms, which by the way are not from this incident, but actually because at some point, he ate a flea...


But apparently he is doing fine and we were sent this picture:

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Friday, June 8, 2012

Living Room Campsite

Sunday night, after the long weekend at the Blue Plum Festival, Nathan and I wanted a little down time. We tried to get the Fresh Market for some Jeni's, but it closes very early on Sunday, and since we were already traveling that direction, we went to marble slab. I've been a standard coffee ice cream with heath bar mixed in, but that night I just wasn't feeling it. So, instead, i embraced my inner 8 year old and got cotton candy ice cream.

we then stopped at a Redbox and rented "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes" which has to be one of the longest movie titles ever. Anyway, I through a quilt on the floor, stacked some pillows up and got an old down comforter out of the closet. It's the coziest way to movie watch.

And Dillan agrees. He wasted no time taking our leg space on top of the squishy comforter, and then he wasted no time into taking a little nap. 



Thursday, June 7, 2012

Oh yeah, I have news...

Remember how I was getting nervous about taking my professional exam, the NCIDQ?

Then remember how I fantasized about completing the exam and rewarding myself with ice cream?

Then I told you all about that ice cream and finishing that exam...

Well, all that paid off, and I'm happy to announce that I am an NCIDQ certificate holder. 




Triple pass - All three sections. With a pretty comfortable buffer zone too.


To celebrate, I posted an embarrassing photo and called it my happy face. I'll celebrate with more jeni's when we get to nashville next week. Until then, i want to see your happy faces too. Post me a link in the comments and tell me what you're celebrating!


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Gross Puppy

This morning, not 5 seconds after getting out the door for our morning walk, Dillan lounged at the ground, bit, and came out shaking a tiny mouse (or something). And by shake, I mean, whipped it back and forth with all the strength he could muster and then he let it go and watched it fly straight into me. I can only assume that he let it go in the first place so he could watch it try and escape only to lounge, bite, and shake it again.

Luckily, Dillan is always on a leash, and I could pull him away. And i dragged him around the corner still listening to this tiny creature shriek.

Then, I had a moment of panic realizing that Dillan has not yet had his shot updates, and oh my, what if that mouse has rabies, and now my dog has rabies.


Well, we are going to visit Petsmart again. I'm calling them now.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Doe River Gorge

Nathan has been playing at Doe River Gorge for the past 10 years. Last night, he played for the one and probably only time this summer, and possibly the last time for a while.

The first summer that Nathan and I were dating, I came in to visit him and experienced Doe River for the first time. While the band practiced, I spent 2 or so hours on the hill watching campers play in the teal colored lake, reading some sort of book (probably a harry potter...), and feeling that I missed out on some milestone of childhood by never attending a summer camp. Then at 8, we went in for worship, and I was blown away. Growing up in a church with someone who leads hymns and my mom on the piano, I'd never experienced a worship so personal. In the tent, I was surrounded by teenagers worshiping God with no reservation.

I cannot say how much this place has impacted me, my husband, and the thousands of youngsters who attend each summer; but, I know I will miss it dearly.



Monday, June 4, 2012

Blue Plum Festival

This past weekend, we spent most of our time doing band things, and by most, I mean all.

Friday night, Nathan played with the R&B band "Unlimited" which is a lot of fun. It's also fun watching Nathan play to a crowd of people who are most likely not at all interested in hard rock. He kind of sticks out.

Afterward, we strolled around looking at all the local vendors and babbling on about how "they" should bottle and sell in either fragrance spray or candle form the smell of deep fryers and powdered sugar. Essentially "carnie" smell. without the petting zoo. That would cost extra.

Last year, Blue Plum started the Urban Art showdown, inviting artists to graffiti some canvases. Here are a couple of really impressive ones.




I wore this knowing that it would be about 55 degrees that night.

 

Saturday night, Nathan's band "The Resolute" headlined. I got to hang around while they interviewed the band. I am a husband-supporting tweeting machine. And there's no reason not to go ahead and claim all the benefits for being the one and only band groupie. Yeah, I'll take some free food! Mmm, yes, a blue moon please!


They nailed it. And it was fun to see a big crowd rocking out up front. Thanks to everyone who came out to watch!

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Month of Change

I can't decide whether to feel especially excited or anxious about all the changes that June is going to bring.

1. My sister is getting married next weekend. Meaning all 3 of the girls will belong to someone else ending this generation of "Hogans". It's only now that I realize the importance of a lineage, so instead of bearing my father's last name forever I can carry on the values that he taught me and continue to honor him.

2. Nashville. We are crazy people and have decided to move 2 days after returning from a wedding packed weekend. Nathan takes the cake on craziness though because he is starting a new job 2 days after we move. Which, I am okay with, because it means I can unpack things exactly where I want them. Also, beware of the sulking puppy updates. He doesn't handle change well.

3. Unemployment. Since I was 13 I had a job. Even though it started as babysitting in the summers, and progressed to scooping ice cream, then retail, plant work, campus employment, resident director, and then finally to professional employment. I am excited for what Nashville might bring for me, as a designer, for great opportunities, bigger buildings and bigger budgets. But also anxious for finding a job, and then admittedly a little ashamed that I might have to work at a shop for a while. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.

4. My Birthday, and thus, closer to 30 than 20. Age. I thought I was so "mature" when I said I would embrace my silver hairs as I got older and one day look like Helen Mirren, but as I continue to find those bright strands, I feel a little more pressure to dye for a while...

So, for the month of June, I am claiming the promise that God provides, and he does it abundantly and in His good pleasure and in his prefect timing.

And in the meantime I am going to be making ice cream.

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