In a flash...

...where did the year go? Hard to believe tomorrow is the first day of December.

2010 has been a very interesting year to say the least. The adventures have been well documented, but it's also been a year to reconnect with old friends and add new ones into the fold.

Jessica & I were talking yesterday and she read me the funniest quote. It said "friends help you move...real friends help you move bodies..." We had a good laugh, but it's true.

I'm very blessed to have an amazing group of friends. I would do anything for them and I know they'd do the same for me. The funnier thing was, Jessica got a new 'do today & the first thing I thought of is "oh no, what do we have to hide?" Haha!! For the record, we don't have to hide anyone or anything.

But back to the point. I find it interesting that just when I close the door on a friendship, it finds a way to open back up. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned. Maybe I shouldn't slam doors so quickly. Or maybe I've actually grown up a little.

I've made mistakes in life, but I've always tried to learn, grow from them and not make the same ones twice.

I've been bitten...

...by the concert bug. I might need to get a second job to pay for all of these little trips!

I've already planned a trip to Tampa in March for Kenny Chesney. I've requested the days off in June for the NKOTBSB show in Nashville. I just gave myself a limit for those tickets. I don't want to pay over $50.00.

A co-worker informed me that Enrique Iglasias is suppose to tour in 2011 too. Now that's one concert I'd love to attend. I highly doubt he'll come anywhere near Knoxville, but maybe he'll go home to Miami. Hello beach trip!!

While searching for Enrique tickets, I saw that Bon Jovi will be playing at Madison Square Garden on my birthday. My birthday is on a Friday and I don't really need another reason to travel to NYC, but what better birthday present could I give myself?

And Kid Rock will be in Nashville the week before my birthday. I'm not sure what it is, but I love him. I'm trying to think what kind of show he'd put on and I can't even begin to imagine it.

Would 5 concerts be too much in one year?

Oh, I can't forget about Jimmy Buffett. I've seen him twice, but it's been forever. I told myself the next time I saw him live, it would be near the water.

I'm Back...

Well, kind of...my laptop is still under repair, but my Mom gave me an early Christmas gift when I went home for Thanksgiving. She got me a netbook! It's going to take me a little time to get familiar with the keyboard. It's much smaller than a normal one and my fingers feel too fat to fly across it, but I'm sure it will work itself it out.

Did I mention that it's hot pink?

The first thing I thought of was, "Yes! I can catch up on my Desperate Housewives!". I missed that last episode before the American Music Awards.

No Loss November

After a slow start and heartbreaking middle of the season slump, the Tennessee Vols pulled off a "No Loss November", which means we're going bowling!

Yes, I called for a 2-2 October, but that didn't turn out like I wanted. But I believe we're a better team because of it. I've seen this team quit on the field, but I've also seen them rally. We've had a lot of ups and downs within our program over the past 3 seasons, but based on the play of our underclassmen, I'd say we're well on our way to becoming "Wide Receiver U" again.

Once we get some weight on Tyler Bray, I think we're all in for a treat. The kid's got a cannon for an arm and he's played in enough games to know what to expect in the coming years. That's one of the things Lane Kiffin did right, sign Tyler Bray. Oh, yeah and he kept Janzen Jackson on the team after that idiotic Pilot incident.

Not only did we beat Kentucky for the 26th straight year, but we also made ourselves bowl eligible. At this point, I don't even care where we play, as long as we play one more game. I'd like to send our senior's out with one final win. They've witnessed a lot in their 4 years on Rocky Top, but they helped lay the foundation for our future.

All I ask is that Coach Dooley do what the Lame One could not. Win a flipping bowl game...and many more to come.

It's Great to Be a Tennessee Vol!! VFL!!!

I almost forgot...

So I watched the American Music Awards last Sunday for one reason and one reason only, I wanted to see the ultimate boy band take the stage. That's right the New Kids on the Block & the Backstreet Boys took the stage together. And let me just tell you, the teeny-bopper in me about died!!

Yes, I'm 31 in actual years, but I'm always going to be a kid at heart and a part of my heart will always love my NKOTB & BSB. I'm not ashamed to admit I screamed and dropped the remote when they started to dance. Then, I couldn't help sining along. It was AWESOME!!

I was even happier the next day when I went online to see they announced more tour dates. And guess what, they're coming to Nashville on Tuesday, June 21st. They will be in Atlanta the following evening. In case you're wondering, yes, I've already asked for the time off from work. The Nashville show is Choice #1, but I'm never opposed to back-to-back concerts.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, December 11th. I have not decided if I want to join the fan club to have a chance to buy the pre-sale tickets. I guess I should look into that.

I missed seeing the New Kids the first time around, I've been waiting over 20 years to see them on stage. I can not miss this show!!

Sorry, I've been out of the loop...

My wonderful laptop decided to give me problems again. I've only had it for like 3 years and this is the second time it's gone crazy on me. I have no idea what's wrong with it, but my buddy Jason offered to take a look. He fixed it the last time, here's hoping he can work his magic again!

So until then, my blog will be a quiet place...sad times.

What can you get for $1.00?

Well, for $2.00 I can get a round trip bus ticket from Knoxville to Washington DC! Apparently starting December 15th, Knoxville will be a stop on the Megabus route. I mean come on, how can you beat that deal?

Once you get to DC, you can get to even more cities: Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and even Toronto...just to name a few.

First launched in 2006, Megabus has serviced over 4 million passengers throughout 28 major cities in the Northeast and Midwest.

Washington DC is one of my favorite cities to visit. I want to see the cherry blossoms bloom in the Spring. Who's up for a bus trip?

Travel Pet Peeves

I know I'm not the only one in this situation, but every time I go to the airport, I swear I have a"moron magnet" attached to me. Come on folks, the TSA line is not rocket science. I think I saw my friend Allyson tweet a similar statement recently.

I still amazed that there are people that don't understand how to go through an airport security line. Here's a quick crash course...don't pack a lot of stupid junk. If you have a laptop, please take it out of the case. If you have change in your pocket or a money clip, please put it in the circular tray. Ladies, if you wear cheap jewelry, put that in the tray too.

Remember, you're only suppose to travel liquids that are 3 oz. or less. All of your liquids should be in a 1 quart ziploc bag that can be EASILY removed from your bag. And don't forget to take your shoes off too. Lucky for me, all of my trips are for pleasure, so I wear slippah's (ie. flip flops for my haole readers) because I can easily take them off. Don't wear stupid shoes that are hard to get on and off if you don't have to.

Oh, and when you're getting your bags off the belt, if you have a ton of crap, please step to the side to reorganize your items. Don't block the line while you're trying to put on your belt, grab your money clip and find your shoes.

The TSA line is my biggest traveling pet peeve, but I was reminded of another tonight. I call it "the annoying traveler who will not shut up". When I'm traveling solo, I don't care about your life story. I don't want to make small talk if I'm reading a book, magazine, or have my iPod playing.

But "the annoying traveler who would not shut up" was sitting a row behind me during my flight from Cincinnati to Knoxville. To make matters worse she was talking non-stop while we were waiting at the gate. I'm not kidding, this woman must have talked for 2 hours straight. Apparently she knew someone else on the flight and kept flapping her gums. It was late, I was tired and wanted to sleep, but I couldn't. To make matters worse, she had an annoying accent.

Please don't be "the annoying traveler who would not shut up". Next time, I'm going to carry earplugs, just in case.

When it rains it pours...

I tried to get out of the office today by 5:00PM...yeah, that didn't happen. But I did get out of there before 7:00PM, which is a miracle for me this week.

Is it just me, or do the wheels seem to fall off before you leave the office for an extended period of time? I made a vow to myself that if I'm on vacation, I don't think about work, but it's a little more difficult when I have to manage 6-7 people at a time. I always have to make sure they have enough work to keep them busy. We're in our busiest time of year, so that's not the issue, this time.

This time my issues came from every other department. Basically other people weren't held accountable and my department had to swoop in a fix the mess. What kills me, all of my employees are topped out on the pay scale. They are classified as "Level 3" employees, but do as much, if not more work than our standard "Level 4's". It's just annoying that my team/department has to bust a$$ and will never be rewarded for their efforts.

They're expected to be perfect, but other departments are not held to the same standard. In a perfect world, each department would be held to the same standard, since we're working toward the same goal.

There are times I feel like an information desk. As a manager, I understand we have to wear different hats, but I sometimes I wish other people could see all the junk we have to put up with and hoops we have to jump through.

We're suppose to start cross-training with different departments & have training sessions about what we do. Is it bad that I want to sign people up for these training sessions...off the top of my head I can list off about 10 people that all need to sit in the front row and take pages of notes!! Haha...

OK, that's enough of a work vent...I have a suitcase to pack....

Sold Out

Guess I waited too long to pick up my midnight Harry Potter tickets. Maybe that was my subconscious telling me I should be sleeping instead of sitting in a movie, then falling asleep at work.

When I'm tried, I'm extra grumpy and my desk doesn't make for a good pillow, no matter how many papers I stack on it.

Where did the time go?

Every Fall I get in a fight with Daylight Savings Time. This time around, I don't even know what happened to that "extra hour" of sleep?!

I do enjoy the sunlight when I wake up in the morning, but I can't stand the fact that it's dark by the time I leave the office. When it gets darker earlier, I feel lazier. I don't want to go to the gym, I just want to come home and hibernate like a little bear.

I'm also over the cold weather, I'm ready for my toes to hit the sand...

To midnight, or not to midnight....

...that is the question...

Part One of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows opens at midnight on November 19th.

I'm on the fence about going to the midnight show. I have to work the next day and the last time I went to a midnight show, then came in to the office, I think I drooled on my desk.

The main reason I want to go to the first show, aside from my lack of patience, is so everyone else doesn't ruin it for me. I haven't read any reviews and won't do so.

We have an away game that Saturday, so I guess I could see it on Saturday afternoon, but I don't know if I can wait that long. I know I'll have to see it again when I go home for Thanksgiving, but I think it will be worth it.

I wonder if I'll be able to take my wand to the show? But since I don't have the robe to match, I'd look kind of silly. And it will be way to cold to wear my old Halloween costume.

Decisions...decisions...decisions...

Colts vs Titans

Not only did Kenny announce a handful of tour dates, but I also found out I'll be going to the Colts vs Titans game in Nashville on December 9th. I've never been to an NFL game before and I LOVE Peyton Manning. I haven't seen him play in person since November 1997, my freshman year of college.

I have officially lost my mind....

Kenny Chesney announced 9 stadium dates for his 2011 Goin' Coastal Tour. I was shocked when I didn't see LP Field in Nashville on the list, but not that surprised when I didn't see Knoxville's Neyland Stadium. I keep hoping they'll add more stadium dates, but I think it's a false hope.

Arena & amphitheatre dates have yet to be released. So, maybe there will be some kind of stop in his home state of Tennessee.

Since I have no patience, and don't want to miss out on the party, I already booked a flight to Tampa for the opening show. Here's the problem, concert tickets don't go on sale till December 11th. Cross your fingers that I actually get tickets!!

NKOTBSB

I never thought I'd see the day when the New Kids on the Block & the Backstreet Boys would join forces for a mega boy band tour. But starting in 2011, this will become a reality!!

I missed the New Kids back in the day, but I've seen the BSB three times and I LOVED it!! Granted, it's not going to be the same without Kevin, but I have to see this show.

All I need to know is, where are they playing and how much will it cost me? And I wonder if Marky Mark would consider being the opening act!!

We're Cooking = Welcome Home

At the beginning of every month, we have a team leader lunch. Wasabi's is our normal destination, but we've been mixing it up a lot lately.

Today, we went to We're Cooking: All American Grill out on N. Peter's Road. The Boss Man likes locally owned businesses and I can't say I blame him. When we walked in we were greeted with "welcome home" & a warm smile.

The owner even let Brad & I go back into the kitchen to show us that the burger patties were made fresh, not thawed from the freezer. Of course Brad had to ask , "Do we have to wear hair nets?" I guess it's hard to take the Monroe County out of the boy.

Any place that let's you order your burger by size (1/4, half or whole cow) has to be good! Not only was the food & staff outstanding, they gave us a free sample of their home made banana pudding. Two thumbs up on the banana pudding.

We're Cooking is the prime example of the American Dream, founded by a Polish immigrant who learned English by watching the new & Cheers re-runs. If you're out in that area, I suggest you stop by for a visit.

After lunch, we headed over to Dick's Sporting Goods and got to pick up any item in the store under $21.00. I decided on the Camo Power Popper. Figured it would be a good stress reliever around the office!