Stuff.

I have too much of it. Kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff, clothes, shoes, gadgets, appliances, DVDs, stuff.

I moved to Memphis from Chattanooga less than a year ago, but I have somehow managed to accumulate a ridiculous amount of things.

When I started the relocation process with St. Jude I made a diligent effort to really evaluate my things and not bring junk because I couldn't seem to come to terms with throwing it out.  I made really good progress.  I gave away 4 garbage bags of clothes, threw away 2 trashcans full of other items, etc. 

Now I'm packing for another move (sorry if this is the 1st you've heard of it) and somehow I have just as much, if not more, than I did in Chatt. Therefore, I am currently living in a cardboard war zone.  Packed boxes, empty boxes, collapsed boxes waiting to be taped, piles to yard sale, piles to Goodwill, piles to throw out and piles to pack. 

I HATE MOVING.  A year ago I had to do nothing but sit there and look pretty as the two nice men boxed, packed, loaded and moved all of my stuff.   For some reason I can't convince HR that relocating me within the same city is a valid use of money that otherwise goes to cure cancer...unbelievable. 

We get our key Sunday and will start moving little things everyday with the big stuff coming Friday, I have no idea how I am going to get it all done.  And that is not a typo.  It says I.  Nothing sucks more than moving, than having to do it solo for most of the time.  RJ has his finals today and Monday (prayers and good vibes appreciated) and therefore our future trumps packing boxes. lame.

Oh, but in true Lindsy fashion, my Pollyanna complex allows me to see the positive and the fact that we are moving into a home that we are both in love with.  It's still small, but it has everything we need and a pretty fabulous backyard to boot!

If you people have tips, tricks, survival guides, etc for moving this is my cry for help: TELL ME YOUR WAYS!!!!!

Otherwise, I might end up one giant paper-cut who can't figure out how to use the packing tape dispenser thing.

Weekend in Heaven

My heaven that is.  And it just so happens that heaven is only 5 hours away. Chattanooga. Duh.

When I'm in Memphis and people ask me where I'm from, they usually get more than they bargained for.  It usually starts with, well I'm from Chattanooga and I moved here almost a year ago. Standard response that one would expect.  Then they get a sales pitch worthy of the best employee of the Chattanooga Visitor's Bureau. I follow that up with a shortened version of my life's history, and then end with a (not so short) list of all of the amazing things to do, see and eat when they take that trip I convinced them of way back with the sales pitch.

Ridiculous? Probably Maybe. But I happen to LOVE Chattanooga and the people that live there.

This weekend RJ and I were lucky enough to get to stay with our besties Austin and Rikki.  They bought their first house back in February and we had only gotten to see it through facetime and pictures.  It's so perfect for them and I love everything they have done with it. 

Just a little back story for those not up to speed.  Austin and RJ are best friends.  Like Rob and Big, Lilo and Stitch, LaVerne and Shirley, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, etc.  They are basically children waiting for Christmas morning when it comes to seeing each other. and it is the cutest thing in the world.

So while the boys play and cuddle, Rikki and I get to talk(gossip) and just be together.  When you are used to basically living with your best friends for 4 years and then all of sudden you are suddenly 5 hours apart, it's kind of a difficult adjustment but nothing has changed and it never will.

Regardless, a weekend in Chattanooga that included my favorite foods (Crust and Amigos), my favorite people (you all know who you are), and my family (even it was only for a few hours) is quite possibly the closest thing to heaven that I can imagine. Not to mention a quick trip into Nashville to See Katie and Boomer's house was pretty fantastic too!

AND I got to spend an uninterrupted 10 hours in the car with my love. There is nowhere that I sleep better than in a car speeding down the interstate. However, somehow we end up talking the entire time just like a couple of kids in the first months of their relationship who are giddy to know everything that is in the other's pretty little head.

I love my friends. I love my boyfriend. I love our home in Chattanooga, we just stay in Memphis.

So here's my public plea. You people come to Memphis and visit more often. We're lonely over here.

Tequila: Is what's for dinner

Seriously. Last night we were headed to the grocery store and decided we were starving and couldn't wait to shop, cook, and then eat. So RJ(knowing exactly how to manipulate me) says, "Hey, How about Mexican?" Chips, salsa, margaritas?" Everyone knows that there is no way that I will decline Mexican food.

We have both been stressed to the max.  Him finishing up grad school and me working like a mad women doing the jobs of 3 people, needless to say there has not been much quality fun time at our house...

We get to the restaurant, decide to sit in the bar and then notice it is 2 for 1 margaritas until 7:00 and it just so happens to only be 6:07; lucky us!  We order one round a piece and put in an appetizer order with the intentions to order food in a bit... fast forward an hour and we have each consumed 5 margaritas and no dinner. Ooops!

It was such an amazing reminder of when we first were dating, before we became old grown-ups with jobs and responsibilities.  We laughed and talked and just enjoyed each other's company. Even if it is over 4 years later he is still a pretty great date.

I'm not saying tequila is going to be a staple on our weekly menu, but maybe it will serve as a reminder to have fun and be young every once in a while.

My Favorite Mexicans(I searched for Deeds in the poncho)

Catching the habit

So, if you remember, a couple months ago I started boot camp with the hopes of jump-starting a new and healthier lifestyle...

Here's the update:

I completed my initial 8-weeks of boot camp and bought another 8.  I am currently on week 4 and have not missed a single class in 12 weeks.

I LOVE EXERCISE. It's a problem really. I never in my whole life thought that I would become someone who enjoyed working out, and yet, here I am.

About a month or so ago St. Jude opened its brand new fitness center on campus to my shock, I am there a minimum of 4 times a week, in addition to my boot camp classes. I have come to accept the slight soreness in my muscles as normal. Who am I? Seriously?

Here's the real kicker. Last week my work, workout buddy Amber was on a business trip Wednesday-Friday and I slacked.  I did not work out at all on Thursday or Friday (unless shopping is considered exercise) and man did I feel it.  My energy level pretty much bottomed out, I didn't sleep as well as I have been, and I was a bit more snappy and irritable.  It also could have been PMS, but whatever, that's beside the point. My body and I missed my workouts.

Once Monday rolled around and I was back in my routine, it hurt a little more during and after, but I also felt a million, bazillion times better. I like to push myself. I like to get out the day's frustration. I cannot wait to go to class, and no matter how tired and winded I get, I am sad when it's over.

Moral of the story, it's not impossible to find a workout you love.  It took 25 years, a good chunk of which were spent overweight, to find something to motivate me, but I did it. The boot camp that I started in January changed my entire perspective in regards to exercise and I can honestly say that I think that the physical changes that exercise has made has rubbed off into other areas of my life.

More on that tomorrow.