Countdown to Kickoff...

We are on the final countdown to Football Time in Tennessee... kickoff is only a few days away and the excitement is contagious!  I am fully immersed in UT stats, ready to talk football, ready to sing the Alma Mater, prepared to shout Rocky Top, ready to tail-gate and officially kick off the fall!  In looking at the analytics on this blog, I have noticed that many people who are reading this are not from the South and might not be aware of what football season means to me.  It is a time for friends to gather, cheer on their team and renew friendships.  I have included some photos below of what football season means to me!  Football season is about more than just football, it is about friends and family!  Go Vols!

Beth & I last season at the Home Opener.  Coach Dooley's first game as a Volunteer!

Suz and I at the home opener two years ago.

Stephanie and I in Columbia, SC for the UT-SC game!  Go Vols!

The girls tail-gating before the game at my condo! Lesley, Meg, me, Suz, Jenna, Rachel

Tailgating right after graduation... Leslie, me, Ginger, Caroline

Out celebrating a victory.... Erin, me, Becky

Sorority Pose!  Me, Kelly, Jenna, Suz

Tailgating last year!  Jenn, Louise, Becky, Hudson, me and Kiel

 I know this sounds trite, but I love the chance to wear my orange... cheer my team on and relax with good friends and family!  Go Vols!

JCP

Planning... gives me a headache!

Well, I've been trying for the past few days to get my running / race schedule worked out for the coming months and it, as most planning does, has managed to give me a headache.  I am trying to run in races near family members / friends / etc.  This is a bit challenging as some races have not announced their dates for next year, but I think I am starting to make progress (Marine Corps Historic Half, Crazy 8's, Raleigh Rocks, Music City Marathon, Birmingham, Disney... hopefully, a Mud Race or two... who knows!).  The schedule is slowly taking shape!  Always a good feeling!

On a positive note, my marathon training is going well!  I have missed a few critical times due to illness, but I am now back at fighting strength and am looking forward to my long runs!  I've almost got my new kicks broken in, so hopefully the blisters will be going away shortly and I can just enjoy my runs!  However, between work and community involvement, my running schedule has been a bit haphazard lately... definitely something that needs to improve! 

If you have any suggestions of races that are a lot of fun or an event that you would recommend, please let me know!  Happy Monday!

JCP

Pay it Forward...

This afternoon, one of my good customers, a local Vet Hospital was having a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Chamber of Commerce.  I was not totally aware of this until I met with them at 10:30 this morning... and the ribbon cutting was at 3 PM this afternoon.  Thus, I kicked into overdrive.... ordering cocktail tables, linens, beverages, decorations, music, treats for the dogs & cats etc.  I thought I was ahead of the curve until I went to pick up the balloons.  Now, granted I was in a rush and granted I was trying to do 100 things at once, but I don't think I fully grasped the concept of squeezing that many balloons into my car.  I mean, I had only ordered 40, but I wasn't driving my SUV, so the back seat was all that was available. 

I arrived at the store to pick up these festive balloons, paid and started taking them out to my car.  I was about halfway to my car when it dawned on me that I might not be able to fit everything inside my car...  Oh well, I was already committed.  Therefore, I kept walking and when I got to my car, I struggled to get my keys out, unlocked the door and started the first of many of what I am sure were humorous attempts to load these balloons into the car.  Five minutes later, I at least hadn't lost any balloons, but that was about as much as I had accomplished.  I was just about to give up and call a co-worker who has an SUV when out of nowhere, my knight in shining armor arrived... well actually knight in overalls and lady in scrubs!  They helped me divide the balloons into small groups so I could actually squeeze them into my car.  When I turned around to thank them after getting everything loaded, they simply smiled and said your welcome and walked off to get their lunch. 

It isn't often when you can say people truly surprise you, but these two did.  Out of nowhere, they came to help a total stranger.  Today was a day that I needed a little boost, and those two kind souls helped me more than they know.  I guess now it is up to me to pay it forward! 

JCP

Our Coach...

For those of you who know me, you know what an ardent University of Tennessee supporter I am.  I am that crazy Alum who goes to most of the games, who wears Orange during the week before a big game, who will sing Rocky Top until I lose my voice... Yes, I am that kind of fan.  If you were watching the news yesterday, though, fans and alumni of UT received heartbreaking news.  Our beloved Women's Basketball coach, Pat Summitt announced that she had been diagnosed with early onset Dementia - Alzheimer's.  Immediately, my Facebook and Twitter feeds were covered with friends offering their prayers, support and thoughts to Coach Summitt.  I reflected yesterday on what she has meant not only to basketball, not only to women's sports, but also to women.

She has the highest number of wins of any coach in basketball, regardless of gender.  She has coached young women into becoming more than the world at times thought they could be.  She transformed women's basketball from a sport that was more intramural into a sport that garners national and international attention.  She did not do this by screaming that the world was not fair to women, she did not accomplish this by whining, she pushed herself and her teams to greatness through her sheer force of will and her inability to accept anything less than her and her player's all.

However, what she helped change wasn't just women's basketball, she changed women and what we thought we could accomplish.  You will see her accomplishments anytime you look in a boardroom and see a woman at the table, you can see her influence in the engineering classrooms across the country that were once foreign territory to women, you can see her in all of the amazing women who have stepped up to become what they were meant to be.  Her influence can be seen in the young woman who has never had to believe that she couldn't do something just because she is female.

I would like to believe that my generation has been doubly blessed.  Not only were we allowed to grow up watching Coach Summitt on TV leading her team to victory or the rare defeat with class, grace and excellence, we have been able to witness her impact on sports (men's and women's).  I find it tragically ironic that of all the people who have accomplished great things in their lives, that Coach Summitt who has earned the opportunity to reflect back on her storied life will not always be able to do so.  But, we the fans, we the young women who have been shaped by her and others like her who changed our world, we will remember.  My thoughts and prayers are with Pat Summitt and her family as they learn to live with this diagnosis and move forward.  Coach Summitt will always be our Coach.

JCP

Running, Golfers and Gators!

When I was in Hilton Head last week, I utilized the time off to enjoy some longer runs than I am usually able to have during the week!  This was all great, enjoyable actually until Thursday of last week.  Why Thursday you ask?  Well, let me tell you what happened.  Thursday morning started out perfectly, I awoke, ate some yogurt, did about two hours of work and was ready to run by 8:30 AM (the heat and humidity in Hilton Head were killer!).  Well, as I am getting ready to walk out the door, one of my clients called.  Of course I answered... why did you answer might be the question you are thinking...  Well, truth be told, he is one of my best customers, so when he calls, I answer.

Anyway, at the (much later) time of 9:45 I actually left for my run.  I ran down the beach... avoided high tide... avoided children with pails & shovels... avoided bicycles... avoided cute, but soaking wet dogs... avoided jellyfish... overall, I was quite pleased with myself as I jogged down the beach.  I proceeded inland and hopped on a bike path and continued on my merry way all the way to South Beach Marina (stopping only briefly to refill my water bottle at the Salty Dog Cafe Bar - yes, it was tempting to order a mojito and call it a day, but I was strong, I kept running!).  I then proceeded to jog to Harbor Town, enjoying seeing one of my favorite golf courses (Harbor Town Links) along the way!  Well, this is where I got into a wee bit of trouble... and by wee bit, I mean almost 7 feet of trouble.  I missed my turn going back so that I could finish the run that I had planned, which meant I was going to go the long way back.  No biggie, I thought... a scenic tour de Sea Pines Plantation! 

It was at about that moment that I heard a growl (very deep... very loud... I heard it over my headphones which should say something) and I looked to my left... and yes, only a few feet away was an alligator... He / She was around 7 feet long... and it was *most* unhappy about my presence.  Well, I don't know much about alligators, in fact most of what I know can be summed up in the following phrase "oh snap!".  Anyway, the gator was definitely not a Julie fan, so I fell back on advice my friend Louise gave me years ago when she started teaching children with severe behavior issues.  She said calmly while sipping a margarita "Julie, I just make them think I'm crazier than they are... and it works.  My kids usually behave the rest of the year."  I figured if it worked on children who would like to stab their teacher, surely it would work on an alligator, right?  So, with what little aplomb was left to me, I waved my arms, started hollering, and otherwise being annoying and making myself look bigger.  Well, I don't know what the alligator thought, but it backed back into it's pond and I continued on my run, with only a few dirty looks from golfers teeing off.  Oh well, Julie - 1 Gators - 0.

I eventually found my way back to the condo, promptly got a beer and related my tale to my family... and yes, they too thought I was crazy... But, that is a fairly typical day!

JCP

Fun in the Sun & Sand!

Good morning!  I just returned from a week spent relaxing on the beach in Hilton Head!  I always enjoy Hilton Head, but this year I was needing a vacation far more than I have needed one in a while!  I will post updates later today and this week, however, right now I am have to dig my way out of my desk!  Happy Monday!

Drinks at the Tiki Hut!

JCP

Singing in the rain... or my shower at least!

Well, I am happy to report that at 8:30 PM EST my plumbing project was completed!  I am not going to lie; I did a little happy dance!  For those of you who are thinking that this seems a bit silly and over-the-top, I assure you, it's not!  This project was a project that I optimistically (and now in hindsight I see how delusional I was) thought would take 1 - 2 hours.  Reality check - It took 2 *days*!  For everything that happened on day 1(or as I lovingly refer to it, my misadventures in plumbing, propane torches, and remaining calm), please refer to my post - Do not try this at home. 

Well, let me catch you up on what happened yesterday.  I was working and my grandmother's plumber / handyman who is installing the new shower handle called to say that he would be at my house around 11:30 AM if I could come and let him in.  When I got there, he was ready to go!  Fast-forward to 5:15 when I am heading home.  I pull into my driveway and notice that both he and my grandmother are in my garage and are still dealing with the plumbing.  Not what I had anticipated.  Well, they said that they had it under control and were fixing one last leak. Thus, I ushered my grandmother inside to rest on my couch while I left for a training run.  When I got back, I saw the plumber / handyman's truck was gone and I got excited!  Surely they must be done!

WRONG!  He needed one last replacement part!  Lowe's trip #5 (trips #3 & #4 were during the day yesterday).  Anyway, so I sit and wait until he returns.  We finally get the piece in place and... it works... nothing was leaking!  So, we hurry inside to install the handle and after only a few mishaps and accidental showers, the new handle was installed!  Thus, when I took my first shower with the new handle last night I was definitely singing.  My cat sat outside the bathroom and hissed (I don't think Beau appreciates the acquired taste that is my singing) and I found Sadie hiding under the bed.  Well, I know I don't have a snowball's chance of making the London Philharmonic, but I feed those two, they could have at least pretended!

But, the lesson learned from this experience is whenever I need to have plumbing done, hire a professional and be conveniently out-of-town!

Until tomorrow!
JCP

Do not try this at home...

In 27 years of life I have come to the conclusion that there are just some things that you should hire a professional to complete.  A few to mention would be re-roofing your house, plumbing, electrical work, plumbing, wall demolition, plumbing, carpet installation, plumbing, serious automotive repair, plumbing, window installation...  Oh wait, did I mention plumbing?  Anyway, in my new house (new to me at least, it was built in the 1950's) the main bathroom's shower needed some work.  And by some work I mean the shower handle fell off... you could put it back on, and believe me, we tried.  Short of super-gluing the handle on, it wouldn't stick.  If you ever want to have a scary experience, try being in the middle of washing your hair and hearing the crash of the handle falling off the shower... yes... *fun*. 

Anyway, with the purchase of a new handle for the shower, my Grandmother suggested that we have her handy-man come and install the handle.  I was fine with that... he does good work... not the fastest, but, hey, he gets the job done.  Anyway, I get a phone call from Mammaw yesterday afternoon around 4 that he was going to stop by and install the handle if I could stop by and let him in.  Well, when I came home from work with 5 minutes to change and start my training run, she was asleep in my living room waiting on him to get back from Lowe's (Trip #1).  I changed and left for my run.  About 45 minutes later, I returned, glistening profusely to find my garage door open and my Mammaw and her handyman in my garage with a propane torch to loosen the pipes.  This, might I add is the grandmother that had a mini-stroke a few weeks ago (you see my point about how hard it is to get her to stop).  Anyway, like I said, they were in my garage with a propane torch and wrenches so I run over, start helping and we finally get the middle piece that has to be replaced out.  By then it is 6:30.  I am supposed to be leaving for my Savvy Savers Investment Group meeting at 6:45... a few minor bumps in the road to that happening:  1 - The water is turned off (definitely need to shower before being seen in public) and 2 - My grandmother who just has been in the hospital was wanting to use the propane torch to help (yes, the potential for disaster just keeps increasing).  Thus, I decided I couldn't leave for my meeting with all this going on, so I sent my checks and stock reports on and stayed home.

After much deliberation, the handyman needed another piece to replace the part of the piece we just removed (Lowe's trip #2).  When he returned we started attempting to put the piece back in.  The entire time, my cat is attempting to poke his head through the hole in the wall to see what is going on in the garage - way to stay on top of things Beau!  At this point I am operating the propane torch and the handyman is wrangling with the pipes. Just an FYI, things that were made in the 1950's are smaller than things made now... Apparently none of us realized that until the piece was halfway in and we realized that we were going to have to cut pipes for it to fit.  By then it was almost 9 PM and we were exhausted, hot, and there was no way we were going to get this installed before midnight...  Thus, we decided to finish today and I went to my parent's house with the dog and cat in-tow to shower and spend the night.

If I have learned anything from this adventure is that while there are many things I am good at, one thing for sure that I am not good at is plumbing... I will keep you posted about my adventures in the wide world of plumbing tomorrow. 

The propane torch... I have nicknamed it Dante!

JCP

Crowds, Lines, Screaming Children and New Kicks!

So, I had been waiting on getting some new running shoes because, well, let's be honest, the pairs that I wear to run in are exorbitantly expensive.  However, even though they are expensive, it is amazing what the difference a *good* pair of running shoes will make with your running.  These specifically help with over-pronation and knee pain (another incident where I was an idiot when I was younger and at times am still paying the price!). 

Anyway, with this weekend being the Tennessee tax-free weekend, I decided that it was past time for a new pair of kicks!  Thus, on Sunday, my Mother and I braved the crowds, the lines, the screaming children and went to the shoe store that carries the types of running shoes I use.  For any of you who know me, there are several things that will put me in a fabulous mood (if you can't sense the sarcasm dripping from that, please let me know).  Crowds, lines and screaming children are three things that I just adore! 

Anyway, Mom and I go, fighting the crowd in my specific aisle and we get several pairs for me to review (I knew the general type I wanted, but my old shoe has been updated and re-issued, so I couldn't just buy it and call it a day).  I then proceed to test the shoes.  Some people say that you can just walk around in running shoes to test how they will work; I wish I was one of those people.  I unfortunately need to know how they will feel while running.  Thus, I put them on with my dress and proceeded to jog around the store.  If your next thought was, how many weird looks did I get, well, let me answer that for you... a ton... the screaming children stopped screaming to point and I had several older ladies shaking their heads at me!  However, since most of the people were slightly crazy and frazzled since it was tax-free weekend, I hope that I will be allowed back in the store at a later date (perhaps I should go incognito with a wig and large sunglasses as well?).

Anyway, when all was said and done, it was definitely worth going during tax-free weekend because they were also running a special on the shoes I ended up choosing, so I saved almost $150!  Yes, I pretty much almost got a pair of my shoes for FREE!  Thus, next year when the insanity that is Tax-Free Weekend rolls around, you will see me braving the crowds, the lines, the screaming children and running around random shoe stores to get the perfect pair of running shoes! 

The sweet look of success!!!

Until tomorrow!
JCP

Lessons Learned...Tennessee Tax Free Holiday!

Well, this past weekend was the State of Tennessee's Tax Free Weekend.  I must admit I learned many valuable lessons this weekend and I thought that it would be only fair to share those with you.

1.  When they say tax exempt... that doesn't include jewelry or accessories!

2.  Families come out en mass and leave their good behavior at home... i.e. I was trying on clothes in the women's dressing room and I heard boys playing around in the general women's dressing room area... yes, they were 16ish, 12ish and 9ish.  If your next question, was the husband there?  Yes, he was, however, he was waiting outside, just chilling... perhaps the wife should have asked him to take the children to an age appropriate place to wait?

3.  You want to see crazy?  Then go to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target or Office Depot.  Yes, next year's Shark Week's scariest sharks have *nothing* on some of the parents I saw this weekend. 

4.  Apparently Pet's clothing doesn't get tax free status (Sorry Sadie & Beau, I know you two were just desperately wanting matching sweaters for this fall!).  Isn't that discrimination?

5.   If you get really bored and are needing some entertainment, bring some friends, popcorn and candy to your local mall.  Find a comfortable bench and sit down and enjoy the madness!  The people watching is absolutely priceless!

Well, I am off to recover from this weekend, but I hope everyone has a great day!

JCP

Put a stamp on it!

Happy Friday!  I hope you all have had a good (and / or productive) week!  Last night when I went home I opened my mailbox and I noticed through all of the junk mail that I had two letters.  One of them was a thank you note for a wedding I was in recently.  I read it and put it in my box of correspondence.  The other letter I made a cup of tea for and curled up and read last night.  In this age of digital life, a few friends and I have continued to send letters - genuine, hand written, lengthy letters.

Please stop gasping, and pick your jaw up off the floor.  I know, I know, this old fashioned drivel coming from one who thoroughly embraces technology.  Let me explain how this all started.  Many years ago, several of my girlfriends and I were lamenting that unlike our grandmothers and great-grandmothers who had boxes of old correspondence from friends, family, loved ones, we had no similar boxes.  Yes, I know, we have our e-mail in-boxes, but really those are just series of ones and zeros and can be lost to the cosmos forever with one incorrect click.  We resolved then that we should write each other.  Keep each other updated about our lives, work, families, everything through mail as well as phone conversations.  We started almost immediately.

Fast-forward almost 6 years now and we are still writing letters on an almost weekly basis.  It actually is quite wonderful as we are all far busier than we were six years ago and coordinating times to talk on the phone can be logistically challenging at times ("I can talk at 6", "Well I can talk from 4-5", "No I can talk at 2").  Also, on a purely selfish note, there is something inherently comforting about getting a letter that you can hold and read, a letter that you can mail with a newspaper cutout or a photo, a letter that you start writing on a Monday and finish throughout the week.  My love of writing and receiving letters has extended now to family and friends who weren't initially in on the conversation, but I have been told by many of them how much they appreciate hearing from me and having a chance to write back.  Finally, isn't it nice sometimes to know that someone cares enough for you to take the time and effort to write a letter?

Well, I am off to start drafting my response to my friend's letter which is now safely stored in an old hat box with all of her other letters and those of many of my friends.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!

JCP

The ransom notes for Lil T!

Good morning!  If you have spent any time at all reading this blog, you will know that I am a *huge* University of Tennessee fan.  I earned my engineering degree there as well as a degree in fanatical football fandom!  (Yes, I am aware of the completely awesome alliteration I just used!).  Anyway, I carry with me at all times a UT koozie, because, let's face it, you never know when you will need to hold a cold drink (water, Coke, beer, etc). 

Well, I participate yearly in a run from Atlanta to Tampa with a group called Operation One Voice (http://operationonevoice.org/) to support the families and children of fallen and wounded Special Operations Forces.  On the run I am usually the token civilian and the only UT fan, therefore, it is always the running joke to see who can "kidnap" my koozie.  Well, this year I have been receiving frequent "ransom notes" from the "captors" holding Lil T (as my koozie is now affectionately called).  Lil T has logged more flight time than most people in the past few months!  Below I have posted some of the ransom notes I have received (some cannot be posted due to security reasons, crazy, I know!)!  I hope everyone is having a great day!

Lil T preparing for a run!

Lil T scoping out the sidewalk (and freedom!)

Lil T at a board meeting of Operation One Voice

Lil T & a Special Operations Command koozie getting to know each other!

Lil T with his Special Operations Forces friend!

Lil T enjoying some Budweiser (courtesy of Eagle Rock Distributors)

Lil T taking in a round of golf!

JCP

Good Old Rocky Top!

Well, with us hitting the one-month mark from the start of college football season I figured today it would be appropriate to have a post about one of my favorite things in the world... University of Tennessee Football!  While I know many of you who read this are already UT fans, for those that aren't I have included the lyrics to Rocky Top below (just in case!).  

Rocky Top

by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant

Wish that I was on ol' Rocky Top
 Down in the Tennessee hills
Aint' no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top
 Ain't no telephone bills
Once I had a girl on Rocky Top
 Half bear, other half cat
Wild as a mink,
 but sweet as soda pop
I still dream about that.

(Refrain) Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee,
Rocky Top Tennessee

Once two strangers climbed ol' Rocky Top
Lookin' for a moonshine still
Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top
Reckon they never will

Refrain

Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top
 Dirt's too rocky by far
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
 Get their corn from a jar

Refrain

I've had years of cramped-up city life
Trapped like a duck in a pen
All I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again

Refrain

 

  

My cousin Jason and I before a UT game!

JCP