Showing posts with label patrick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patrick. Show all posts

1.08.2012

adieu sweet freedom



Our month long break is officially over.

 School starts back tomorrow and although this break has been absolutely amazing—I am ready to get back in routine, ready to learn more, and very excited about seeing my classmates!

This was the first time in years (probably about 6) that I've had a break this long.

 I’ve always been either working/schooling or both. And for once, I literally had 4 whole weeks free. Bizarre.

I hung around Jack town for a week after classes were over and did a lot of hanging out with this lady…



Spent the next week and a half in the Queen City mainly because of this guy…



And I also enjoyed spending a lot of time with this guy…



(and these guys)






Attended several Christmas parties…



Spent 3 days doing absolutely nothing…


Spent 5 days at a Monastery in Batesville, MS to welcome 2012…



Ran the Mississippi Blues Half-Marathon with my brother…




And finally, I got to spend my last week of freedom back in Jackson visiting with lots of dear friends that I don’t get to see often enough during the school year.

I had the pleasure of dining at Parlor Market 3 times during my break. Each time was supremely superb…

(the above desert tray was made by our very own, Lydia Grey Gamble. Do go visit her at Parlor Market. She makes the best sweets in town.)

I’ll sure miss these long breaks when I’m no longer a student.

That may be why I maxed out my 4 weeks…

But I’m ready to hit the books again……

I’m gearing up for my 30th birthday in a few weeks… that feels a little strange.

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and are keeping those resolutions you made 8 days ago…

I’m still working on my second post about all that I learned at Magnolia Grove. 

And so now I’ll bid adieu to the break from responsibility…

Good-bye Freedom! See you in May!

What did you do over the holidays?

How did you spend your break?






9.25.2011

the truth is......

as usual, the weekends go by too quickly.

i had the pleasure of spending this past weekend with my all-time favorite people.

my nephew.



and my boys.

I got to spend some really good quality time with Irwin. This little (16month old) boy brings me joy like no other. I honestly wish I could see him every single day. I enjoyed every second of chasing him, playing cars with him, throwing the ball with him, feeding up, bathing him, reading to him, and putting him in bed. He is one of the happiest babies I’ve ever seen. And might I brag and say his hand-eye coordination is remarkable for a 16 month old. He can actually throw and catch the ball.

And then I also enjoyed some QT with my favorite rambunctious crew—the “Uncle Goodtimes” (as I so affectionately labeled them over the weekend).

And I have a confession to make.

I throw the boys under the bus more than is necessary.

I embellish, boast, and make-fun of these guys so much that you might not actually know how much I really do love them.

If you haven’t already figured out by now, we (all 4 of us) are very lively characters. Our real lives and stories often seem more fictional than real. However, we can assure you, they are very real.

This weekend was no exception.

I spent Friday evening carousing around with them……listening to them moan about losing lovers they never had, and dancing to crazy, silly music. Then of course, they had to listen to my countless stories of lovers I don’t yet have, and all the recent “fumbles” I’ve made with love. At one point, we were all rolling around on the ground dying in hysterics.

You really can’t make this shit up.

I won’t re-tell any of the stories here because I can assure you, you would either A) not believe me or B) never speak to me again.

The night ended with an almost-bar- fight scene up at Weidmann's. I pretended to be largely embarrassed…even though I was mainly just giving them a hard time. I thought the whole entire thing hilarious. The fight ensued because some red neck hillbilly made fun of Eric’s scarf. I remember him yelling, “Don’t ever make fun of my scarf, bro!”.

And then he said, “Jen, would you push someone off this balcony for me”. And I said, “no eric, I wouldn't”. and He said, “I would. I would kill for you. I would gladly take any bullet or push any man off this balcony for you”.

And you know, as the weekend has come to a close….and I’ve thought about how much fun I get out of watching them make themselves look stupid….i have to get honest:

The truth is I would push someone off the balcony for you, Eric. I would also take a bullet for you or jump in front of a car for you or whatever else ridiculous nonsense thing we make up.

The bond I have with those boys is thicker than blood.

They’ve seen me at my lowest. They know all the skeletons hiding in my closet. They listen to me ramble on and on about things that don’t matter. They’ve helped me pick up the pieces over the years and move on. We’ve celebrated both good and bad times together. We’ve been through break-ups, deaths, marriages, relationships, children……..

They are the ones I want standing on my side if I ever get married.

Their opinions are the ones that matter when it concerns possible love interests, jobs, major and un-major decisions.

The truth is that I would rather spend my weekends with them than anyone else.

The truth is that I can’t imagine my life without them.

Eric, Patrick, (and Seanie-baby even though you weren't there, you were in my heart)

I love you.

Thanks for being my boosJ

I look forward to you all inundating my home this weekend!

 here are some photos from the weekend:


















I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are ready for a new week! Last week in September, here we come! 

7.27.2011

The Bobcat



“What do people like myself and my friends do on a random Tuesday night?” You might be asking yourselves (I feel confident that you are)…

Why…

We throw a huge masquerade party and call it

The Bobcat.

Yep. That’s how we roll.

I had the honor and privilege of attending what is most assuredly the BEST party of the century---and in my home-town to boot.

Tuesday evening, “my boys” (they do have names—Eric Aycock, Patrick Flanagan, and Sean Omlor) decided to throw down and get down for their crowns. We never need an “excuse” to party, but we did have several reasons for this one.

Namely that our two-dear-lovely-adorable friends are moving! One left today for Los Angeles (the beautiful and lovely Hannah Ford) and the other one (Lindsey Brown) is moving to Memphis in a week!

We threw down in royal fashion with masks and disco balls and a playlist that would make even your own mama shake what the good lord gave her.

I danced for 4 hours straight. I was dripping with sweat after the first 30 minutes.

Leslie Lee Marshall (my adopted big sis) was so gracious as to let us use her downtown facility, Elegance Ballroom Dance Studio, to host our shin-dig.

I got to see dear friends of mine that I hadn’t seen for at least the last 2 years, if not longer.

We hugged, kissed, danced, and hugged some more.

These people have seen me through some of my very lowest and darkest times.

and now they are seeing me through one of the best and most positive times.

Without a shadow of a doubt, I know these people love me. And I most certainly hope they know how much I love them.

In all our bizarre and quirky ways, we are a family. We hold each others’ hands through thick and thin. We laugh, make-fun of, and belittle one another. We also adore, nurture, and affirm one another.

I can not imagine my life without them.

It’s a huge reminder that goodness abides.

We may be a little rough around the edges, but in the center, there’s nothing but goodness to be found.
















7.04.2011

july in the queen city

Happy 4th of July, Friends!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday and spending it with loved ones.

I had a marvelous weekend in my home-town.

It was my dad’s 62nd birthday,

and I got to hang out with old and new friends.

I go to meridian a lot but I rarely see anyone but my family. This weekend I decided it was time to see the old gang again.

And I’m so glad I did.

Good conversations, good food, and funny moments abounded.

I’m blessed to have such good people in my life.

 sisters

As usual, the center of attention this weekend was the baby. He’s growing so fast and gets cuter everytime I see him!








Dad’s birthday dinner at El Norte



the beautiful and brilliant Robin! 

 Patrick sure is pretty! (he’s going to kill me when he sees this photo resurface!) 


 Sean and Robin acting out what it looks like to be “in love”.

Sean and Robin showing us what it looks like to have been married for 25 years and headed for divorce.
 How cute is Sean?? I wish I could put him in my pocket and carry him around with me every where!
This is what I look like when Patrick and Eric are working


 this is what I look like when Patrick and Eric are hanging out with us!
 My new adorable friend!

The ladies! Oh how I love my Hannah Ford! 


 While we were hanging out, this is what Patrick was busy doing…
And this is what Eric was busy doing… 

as you can plainly see, my time in Meridian was precious.

can't wait to see my family and friends again..

now...back to studying. 2 more mid-terms tomorrow!

I'm celebrating Wednesday by dining at Parlour Market with two of my favorite ladies ever! 

and once again, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! 

May all beings everywhere be happy and free! today and every day of the year!

Blessings to you!
jen