La La La La Laaaaa Warm It Up...

Because its Wednesday. And this makes me laugh every time I read it.

(thanks kADPi22)

Wake me up when September ends....

Its seriously already September??

I don't know whether to cry or rejoice that this summer is FINALLY over. Its been the hardest summer of my entire life, filled with bittersweet moments and the realization that there is a purpose unbeknownest me, that I am intended to fulfill.

I left for Chicago the last time I posted and I shall share some fantastic pictures with you all!
Chicago is one of those city's that you definitely want to explore with your significant other or at least your best friend. It has SO much to offer and its incredible. It was so nice to get away for a week with no agenda but aimless wandering around a new city.
I highly encourage you do this at some point in your life.
Pick a place to go. Don't have an agenda. Bring enough money that you can do whatever you want and just be yourself. You owe it to yourself.

I don't know how to work this blog well when it comes to posting pictures so I didn't know how to make them pretty and not so aggressive. So enjoy or don't enjoy. Whatever.

First thing I did when I got off the plane. Chicago Style Hot Dog and a "312" brew!! I had this twice on my trip. So good. (Rikki, they serve Veggie ones too!)

Look what I found on the boardwalk by the lake! Cornhole. And I played it.

Real Chicago Style Pizza! All others will never compare. Ever.

My hotel. Hotel FEEEEE-Lix. Where they serve all you can drink Mimosa's on Sundays for $20. Yup.

Hugh Hefner eat your heart out.



LEGO LAND! This is all I wanted to do the whole trip was go here. Hi, I'm 7.



Miami Beach or Chicago? Who cares. It was sunny and there was a DJ on the boardwalk.

 

Laying in bed drinking "312" local Chicago Beer and watching the Top 20 Lil Wayne videos.



Me and my travel companion, Drew on our way to eat at Friendship Sushi

 

Drinks on the 95th Floor of the Hancock Building! (building where Chris Farley was found dead. Sad face)



Chicago Board Walk with Chicago in the background.



Upon my return, I had to go into hiding for a while so I have been working all over various locations of the state.

Not to mention that when I returned, my travel companion told me he couldn't be friends with me anymore because he had feelings for me that I clearly didn't have for him. He then noted to tell me how I just didn't seem like I would ever be interested in anyone from the way I acted towards guys. Like I just didn't care. So apparently, I have no soul when it comes to dating, men, or relationships in general. Awesome.

I think my problem is I still miss Matt. I miss him every single day. For a few days the whole "Out of Sight/ Out of Mind" mentality works, but something always reminds me of him.

You would think after 4 months of not really speaking to someone and airing out all the feelings, anger, issues, etc. that I wouldn't really care anymore and just be over it. Wrong. You spend 5 years with someone that you don't speak to at all any more. Like it never happened. It doesn't settle well with me, still. I find it baffling that's its September and I feel this way.

Oh well, the heart wants what the heart wants. And it clearly doesn't want anything at the moment but peace.

At least I got this picture sent to me from my office (below). Highest award you can receive on your team every quarter. (every 3 months)

At least my teammates think I have a soul.



Love you all that read this....And Rikki, I've been praying all day for you and Austin.

Now I ain't sayin you's a gold-digga....

Today is D day. (its technically Thursday at 2am. and yes, im still awake)

Off to court I go to protect my safety, my dog, and my life in general from the crazies in this world. One "ORDER OF PROTECTION" please.


After that, I will be packing to go on another vacation until Monday night. This time:

CHIIII CAAA GOOOO.

Home of my personal favorite:

And then on Monday night when I land back in sweet Nashville, I have been invited to have dinner, drinks and watch the BEST reality hot mess ever, Bachelor Pad, with this amazing person and her husband.....True story.

She is the wife of one of my colleagues at Dell and he is seriously one of the most interesting people I have EVER met in my life. He sits directly to my left every single day. And with that, I get exposed to the most eclectic things I've ever known. Its a treat and an honor to get to know them daily.



Be mindful of the following:

"Bad things do happen to good people...."

Romans 8:18

Like Sand Through The Hour-Glass....So Are The Days Of Our Lives

Here I am committing that I would blog more, and those I love are blogging less.
Not ok.

It's Sunday in the tiny house hold of Benny and B. We are currently lounging with the sliding glass door open since the humidity decided to be normal this weekend!

For the past two months, I have been been experiencing some rather not-so-wanted attention from a male co-worker. A co-worker I do not know, nor have I ever met in person other than in passing. Fast forward to this week, things became aggressive and uncomfortable. After some rather threatening emails, Instant Messages and stalking around the building, it was recommended I work from home this past Friday. The person was then taken into a room, shown all threatening emails, etc. and was then escorted out of the building and fired. Human Resources does not take lightly to harassment in the work place. And for that, I am grateful. This person would not take "no" for an answer. Which leads me to tell you how I spent my Friday night at the Davidson County Police Station in night court. Filing my very first restraining order.
After he was escorted off campus, he then proceeded to lash out on his Facebook about how he wasn't giving up and that he still wants me to call him....he then writes: " Brandi, please call me at blah blah blah. I will not give up. What do i have to do to make my phone ring?"
So yes, several people I work with saw this, sent me a screen shot via iPhone and off to the police station I go.

Sidenote: If you do not know how to use the "screen shot" feature on the iPhone, it is life changing!! All you do is hold down the HOME button and snap the top silver button (iPhone 4 silver/ 3 black) like you are taking a picture. It instantly takes a flash of your screen and moves the image in to your Pictures. Another feature of the iPhone and how it keeps on giving....
Dont get me started on "DROPPING /SHARING a PIN" . Don't even get me started.

So yeah. If you ever feel like your life is out of control, please take a moment to appreciate the fact that you aren't legitimately being stalked and harassed by someone you dont even know.
I now carry mace, and have signed up for my Gun Carrying Permit. At this point, living alone and being single I can't take any chances.

I also would like to throw a shout-out to Katie who put together one of the funniest group emails I have EVER read. Its only second, to "UGLY BABY FRIDAY". I was so consumed with everything on Friday I didn't have a chance to respond, but I just wanted you to know Katie that I appreciate those and feel free to keep sending them out.
Also, please update your damn blog.


Below I added a place I want to go back to and get away from the daily chaos.

Oh Hawaii, how I miss you already.

Chicago. Here I come.



I am seriously standing on the edge of this rock. True story.



the tangled web we unknowingly weave

So I promised Hawaii pictures and updates and just general fabulousness of my life to be expelled here frequently.

I am liar.

Its 12:39a on a school night. And instead of working like I told myself I would do, I am now blogging because working is the last thing I want to do right now.
Thank sweet baby Jesus (in his Tuxedo shirt) for calling me and telling me Katy Perry said "TGIF".

I celebrated my 27th birthday this Saturday. And to put words so eloquently, it was a life changing experience. I have now found myself in the most peculiar situation I have EVER faced. Which only leads me to reflect from a year ago and think "how the heck did I get here?".

We (and by "we" I really mean "me") always have this short term goal/life plan or even just false hope that our lives are going in the direction that WE want it to go. But alas, flash forward 365 days and we see that is simply never going to be the case. We can fight it all day long by keeping busy, ignoring the signs and basically brushing the days under the rug. Works if you're just looking for a quick fix. But a piece of mind is something achieved only after a years reflection, I found. And its usually found too late.

Miley Cirus once told me that "its about the CLIMB" and I'm starting to believe she's right. I trusted her when she told me there was a Party In the USA, and I had one of the best nights of my life.



At TAVERN for Dinner with a lot of my favorite people
Tecate, is the gift I took home from San Diego in March. I love it

THANK YOU to those who called/texted me to tell me how much I mean to them. Its refreshing and a constant reminder that I am better off than I deserve.

I received Friday + Saturday: Flowers, 4 bottles of Champagne, birthday cards (shout to Herndon for most original), RayBans, Homemade Brownies, free lunch, and an abundance of love. (I'm certain I'm forgetting something)


I'm confident that I've found myself in this moment for a reason. And as much as Im trying to fight it, I'm not sure that I can anymore. I apologize for being so cryptic, but I'm in awe of where I'm at in my life right now.

Happy Birthday to Me. In so many ways:





27 is the year it makes sense.



Find yourself. Be yourselffffffff.

Mindset: Find yourself. Be yourself.

Just a typical Tuesday night here in the Casa de Benny and B.

 



Bentley is a my #1  Blog Fan. Cant you tell?





Lots of things in my life have happend in the past few weeks since I last visited the virtual world.

Matt is officially gone to Florida for the next 3 years and will be pursuing his dream of becoming a Dr. and hopefully finding himself, so he can be himself.

For this, I am eternally grateful that the man upstairs has started showing him his plan and purpose. And although things ended on a not-so-stellar note and still isn't quite where I wish they'd be after 5 years of tears, happiness, heartache, trips, Benny, love and life.... I'll accept the fact that its not up to me and to just sit back and watch my story unfold. Whatever that may or may not be.

Things not so serious:
I got to see David Gray from the Floor of the Grand Ole Opry last week and it gave me chills.
Nothing moves you more, than when your arm hairs stand straight up from hearing something that really connects with you. For me its live music.

Always has been. It moves me and I love love love it (and im sure this is true for most people)

It was just what the Doctor ordered since his lyrics are so well scripted:

Well its flesh and blood and camouflage
into the wall now somethings gotta give.
Just another act of sabotage
Seein through the haze of a mind-rot sedative.

When will you realize my friend?
Love, in the end now, you cant take it with....
Gotta live

Performing the acoustic version of  "Fugitive" (Listen here)

My new personal favorite song by him (other than Sail Away) is "Tidal Wave". Its just so pretty....and honest.
It also describes my general emotions in a single act of God..... A Tidal Wave
And as I stalked the Internet to find this to share, there was only 1 single clip. So ignore the video and just listen:  Coming Through My Head. This Tidal Wave.


Set apart from that adventure of bliss, I have had friends who have kept me busy being out and about. Being girls. Being ourselves.
For them, I am also grateful for, by making me get out of my apartment and out to help judge America's youth and their lack of clothing and manners. (and yes i wrote "manners" because I do not need to EVER need to see someone else's body parts, unless you're my husband...and well, i'm striking out there....but you get the idea)





This past weekend,  my longest standing best friends from 7th grade, came into town. Samantha, Laura and even Beth came into the world of Nashville.
Beth was in from Hawaii for a few days to visit her family and stayed with me on Friday before her flight back to Hawaii early Saturday morning. (and by early, yes i mean 4am)

As you can see from the picture posted below, Sailor Jerry made an appearance and so did Laura. Samantha and I were the smart ones being that we know how angry Sailor Jerry can get so Sam stayed in Knoxville on Friday and drove up Saturday morning and I just sat back on the couch watching as the night unfolded.

Saturday Morning Results: Beth made her flight somehow & Laura threw up all day on the double-decker pontoon boat we had (with a slide). I just soaked up the sun and directed my passengers to keep all limbs inside the vehicle while moving.

Yes, I was Captain B on Saturday. Me and my trusty iPhone Compass. Samantha was my handy first-mate. Apparently you just head "SOUTHEAST" and you'll run into Party Cove from any point on Percy Priest Lake.



Because Sailor Jerry is always a great idea. Not.


To make things more interesting and to give you a tid-bit of where my life is taking me in 72 hours.
Remember that movie:



I will be in Hawaii...Forgetting Sarah Marshall...and the rest of my life for the past 5 years for 6 whole days.

A much needed trip considering the year I've had and the changes that have taken place.

Pray I meet John Mayer there and he wants to write me love songs like Aldous Snow...While wearing a Hawaiian Shirt of course.

Aloha!

Leave Friday, July 15, 2011

United Airlines 6186 Economy  |  Embraer RJ145 (ER4) |  1hr 44min |  403 miles

Operated by: /UNITED EXPRESS/EXPRESSJET AIRLINES. Please check in with the operating carrier.

Depart:	6:35am	Nashville, TN  Nashville Metropolitan (BNA)
Arrive:	8:19am	Chicago, IL  Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Seat: 10C, 10B, 10A | Your flight is confirmed. Seats are confirmed.

Change planes. Time between flights: 1hr 31min

Continental Airlines 6200 Economy  |  Boeing 777 (777) |  9hr 1min |  4242 miles

Operated by: UNITED AIRLINES -- UA 233. Please check in with the operating carrier.

Depart:	9:50am	Chicago, IL  Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Arrive:	1:51pm	Honolulu/Oahu, HI  Honolulu/Oahu International (HNL)

Your flight is confirmed. The airline will assign seats at check-in or you may choose seats

Total duration: 12hr 16min | Total miles: 4645 miles

Return Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Continental Airlines 1086 Economy  |  Boeing 737-800 Passenger (738) |  5hr 35min |  2553 miles

Depart:	1:50pm	Honolulu/Oahu, HI  Honolulu/Oahu International (HNL)
Arrive:	10:25pm	Los Angeles, CA  Los Angeles International (LAX)

Seat: 27B, 27A, 28A | Your flight is confirmed. Seats are confirmed. You may view/change seats

Change planes. Time between flights: 3hr 5min

Continental Airlines 1655 Economy  |  Boeing 737-800 Passenger (738) |  3hr 13min |  1383 miles

Depart:	1:30am	Los Angeles, CA  Los Angeles International (LAX)
Arrive:	6:43am	Houston, TX  Houston George Bush Intercntl. (IAH)

Seat: 29D | Your flight is confirmed. The airline will assign seats at check-in or you may view/change seats

Change planes. Time between flights: 0hr 37min

Continental Airlines 2573 Economy  |  Embraer RJ135/ RJ140/ RJ145 (ERJ) |  1hr 57min |  663 miles

Operated by: /EXPRESSJET AIRLINES INC DBA CO EXPRESS. Please check in with the operating carrier.

Depart:	7:20am	Houston, TX  Houston George Bush Intercntl. (IAH)
Arrive:	9:17am	Nashville, TN  Nashville Metropolitan (BNA)

Seat: 18A, 10A, 11A | Your flight is confirmed. Seats are confirmed. You may view/change seats

This is an overnight flight.

Total duration: 14hr 27min | Total miles: 4599 miles

Back to a blogful mindset.

Not to steal Dr. Sarah Thompson's thunder, but its exactly what it is. Back to Blogging. Like the days of livejournal before Facebook took over the world.
Especially for me since I blog about as much as a lunar eclipse happens. So in this time I have taken to write this blog I must preface that many events have taken place between the Philly post and this very moment.
I'll put them in shorthand for you:

1. I got an iPhone

2. I got another iPhone because the first one was boo-jank

3. I booked my flight to Hawaii (july 15-20)

4. I booked a random trip to Chicago, IL. (Aug 25-29)
5. I became Single.

6. My best FRAAN Katie got hitched to a man that is BoomBostic.

7. RAC and Austin celebrated their first Wedding Anniversary. (Silver? is that the tradition)

8.I bought new furniture from the flea market of Nashville. Out with the Old.
9. I bought 3 new books that I'm attempting to read at the same time (true story)
10. I have tickets to see David Gray this Thursday at the Grand Ole Opry. Winning
11. Danielle Larsen loves Stix Izza
12.I am currently re-watching the entire series of Sex and the City. (at season 4 currently)
13. I learned how to make Buffalo Chicken Dip
14. I've also learned to make time for me........and Benny

With being single comes great relief and a great sadness. To cure the latter I have tried to remain as occupied as possible to keep my head and heart in the right place. So far, its working. Its just so amazing when I read Samantha's post about how change makes the present seem so much more appealing. I believe that to be true with everything in life. Including relationships. But what she also noted was that with this change will come a challenge and the challenge of being alone is something I am ready to try again. Just getting back to me and who I was 5.5 years ago. Not just a pair anymore, identified by being a "couple" or part of someone else but being someone who truly carries her own essence. I have faith that this change will definitely bring about the best in both Matt and myself.

And now a few photos:



Bentley's excitement about me blogging right now



My new end table and birdcage I got!



My new Coffee Table...(minus that weird lamp?)



Me. 5.5 years ago...Time to find that girl.







Mowtown Philly. Back Again

Ok.

So its been a while since I've posted...."ahem".
Its been about 2 months now... and counting. SORRY!

We all know how awesome I am at sitting down and committing to these things.

Anyhow, I suppose I should update you all since the purpose of this thing was to update those I miss oh'so'dearrrrly.

Weekends have flown by which leave the "weeks of havoc"! In those weeks lots has happened!
I was elected Dell's Medium Business Employee of the Month (for March)! Which came with a nice little check, a front row parking space, my picture posted embarrassingly on the main hallway wall and a sweet jeweled pin I wear on my security badge. I shall insert a picture soon. (it looks like a high school class ring someone pawned and melted down to the stone for money) I'm a proud missy though.

Secondly, I jet setted to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for work which happened to fall on St. Patricks Day! Due to last years robbery I still do not have a camera so you will have to settle for some sweet blackberry pictures.
Gary and I (Gary is my boss) set out on Thursday afternoon to the airport in Nashville, TN. Had a quick 2.5hr flight to PA and then had the most bizarre experience at the Enterprise a person can have and then it was off to the Sheraton downtown Philly!
We had to get up at 5:30a (EST) on Friday so we didn't stay out *too* late on St. Patty's Day but the places we ventured out to were nothing shy of chaos. So the last place we went had the best band EVER! It was a mix of a hipster jam band meets Justin Timberlake meets Snoop Dog meets Fleetwood Mac meets Blues Travelers. They were amazing.

This was my view at 5:38am EST on Friday from my hotel room:

I know the quality is 2000'n late but you get it.

After visiting with customers all day on Friday we then went to the "Shore" to scope out any Guido's. It was so fun due to the fact that V-Necks and Hair Gel were EVERYWHERE! Again, sad I didn't have a camera.
So after dinner we found a Lucky Strike one street over! Little did Gary know that Matt and I are frequent bowlers! I beat him 3 out of 5 games and of the last 2 I used a different ball ;) Needless to say, he still demands a rematch.
So on the way home I asked if we could stop somewhere for a midnight snack! I kept seeing these stores called a WAWA all over the place. Little did I know they made hand sammich's and hoagies 24/7! I had the best BEST Tuna on Wheat Toast a girl could ask for!
I was so happy that I took a picture of the last one in sight before we left :)

Lastly, I got home to the sweetest boyfriend and the best fur'baby a girl could ask for! I even discovered that one of Matt's favorite fisherman is from Philly so I lucked out when I brought him home this swag:

And last but not least, your monthly dose of Bentley. And his pretty boy swag haircut:

Stay tuned for the next entry when I finally have Matt's camera and can post legit pictures of our trip to San Diego, CA! (our plane leaves this Thursday).

Oh wait, you didn't hear? I won an all expense paid trip for 2 to San Diego, CALIFORNIA. Also another perk of the job....

Better than I deserve.

"Lay Some Bricks Today"

So I've done it.
I've finally re-joined the world of social media again. I'm hoping this will somehow get my mother to stop asking me to get back on facebook! (love you mom)

Please hold me accountable for updating this thing once a week! And most importantly adding pictures!

Today's title is based solely on a motto I gave my team at work...(because i am the baby of the team and normally spout out random bits of jibberish that all of the others just normally shake their heads and giggle at)....

Sidenote: Everyone I work with is in their 30s-married-with children. There isn't a day that goes by I don't get called "Miley Cyrus" or "Doogie Houser".

So, to really grasp the meaning of it, there are days when I leave work and feel like I didn't get anything accomplished or didn't perform as well I as expected. So I adopted the motto of calling that day "a day of brick laying"... So if you feel like you left your day with nothing to be shown for it, consider it bricks being layed towards something more awesome. Or just accept that it sucked. You decide.

Enjoy your sunday and this awesome picture I have bestowed upon you of Kelly Kapowski and her Pro Fisherman boy toy: