Drumroll please....

We went out for a celebratory dinner at Parco Cafe last night with Casey (my friend/current manager) & her husband Shane.

What were we celebrating? I accepted an offer on a new position at my company this week! Due to corporate red tape, it will be about a month before I change roles, but I'm going to be a Technical Trainer in our Education group. It's going to be a big change for me, but I'm so excited. I'll be training our customers how to use our software. My educational experience and preference is to be in a more direct face to face interaction with people, so this position is a good fit for me.

Another big change with this position is that I'll be traveling up to 60%, so it's a bit of a lifestyle change. Probably more often than not, I'll be in a not so glamorous city, but you can guarantee I'll keep you posted either way here.

It seriously was a month before I learned about the open position from the time I accepted. I was dying to blog about it, but wanted to keep it quiet in case it didnt go favorably. There was one weekend that I was a nervous wreck...seriously, like the worst stomach cramps / anxiety over a presentation I had to do. Funny enough, I wasnt nervous the actual day I did the presentation, but the anticipation was killing me.

Anyway, I'm super excited... it's definitely a positive step in my professional development. Goodbye to helping clients with problems with servers and quirky software issues... I freaking hated that the whole time anyway.

You know you are in Brentwood when...

you see a baby with a bib that says "Wee Publican."

I seriously saw that today at lunch. No wonder that damn baby was crying.

People we still need around...

Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner has long been a fascinating and inspirational personality in my opinion. Her life has been amazing and interesting at the same time.

Of course, I think that anyone swindled by her husband (and likely her) with the whole PTL scandal is an unfortunate circumstance. Did she know that her husband was such a dirtbag? Most likely...

However, I'm so sad to see that she is reaching the end of her life here. If you havent seen the documentary, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," I suggest you watch it. I'm typically skeptical of televangelist types, but for some reason, I feel like she has always mostly been genuine.

If you saw the recent clip of her on Larry King Live, you'll know what Im talking about... bless her heart. Cancer sucks.

Random photo

So, I've decided to start posting some random pics on my blog of people I love hanging out with... and who happen to be with me when a camera is around.

I'll start this trend with a pic of me and my favorite San Francisco--soon to be Philadelphia--bitch...Josh. This picture was taken in Kansas City when we saw Loretta.

BTW... Josh has recently started blogging again so check out his blog that is listed in my links.

Keeping the faith!

So, you all know I'm a H-U-G-E fan of the Nashville Predators. This post-season has been a roller coaster ride to say the least.

A coworker/fellow fan recently said..."I didnt think it could get any worse than being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs again" but boy were we surprised a few weeks later to learn that the team was being sold to the Blackberry billionaire who had plans to move the team. Well, that seemingly didnt work out, and then they were going to be sold to someone who possibly would move them to Kansas City... sigh.... well, then we learned that a local group of investors wanted to purchase the team and obviously keep them here....

Well, by all accounts at this point, it's very likely that the local group of investors can actually purchase the team. There was a huge rally/season ticket drive today at the arena that got a lot of positive media coverage and is a big step forward in showing that Nashville actually IS a hockey town after all.

Someone asked me yesterday if I would be attending the rally...well, no... I wouldnt and didnt... for two reasons: a) the main part of the rally was at 6pm and I barely get home by that time and b) I dont intend on buying season tickets.

Dont get me wrong, we went to approximately 25-30 of 42 home games last season. The sticking point is we get free tickets often (Hal's company or similar contacts)... but we also arent scared to shell out close to $200 for a pair of tickets when necessary (this bitch doesn't sit in the nosebleed section, ok?).

Additionally, I cant get season tickets this year b/c I might not be able to use a good bit of them (this is affected by my pending announcement) and I really am not in the position to be buying tickets and donating the ones I cant use to charity--although I hope to be someday.

There's really no major point to this post other than to say that I am feeling more positive about the local deal after this rally and the fact that the local group met with the NHL commish yesterday. A lot of people may poo poo my love for the Preds as a "so what" type thing, but it's amazing how much I've grown to love this sport and team over the past few years. It's really hard for me to describe.

Long live the PREDATORS!!!!!

Something is brewing...

and it ain't beer.... I've got some good news to share with you blog readers... but not just yet...

I frigging have had a month of dealing with this... and it's finally come to a conclusion...

Stay tuned... I waited a month, people, you can wait a few days.

Pa... Pa... I cant see...

Little House on the Prairie is one of my favorite tv shows EVER. Twenty-three years after the citizens of Walnut Grove left us, I still catch the reruns anytime I can.

I was thrilled to catch the last 30 minutes of the final episode tonight. I've often discussed this with others (who doesnt talk to their friends about LHotP???) who dont remember the final episode, but it's a good one, I assure you.

See, it turns out, some shister comes into town and produces a deed proving that he owns Walnut Grove--and several other surrounding towns--and he's kicking them all out. Well, always a Phoenix, the citizenry doesnt take to that very kindly and take matters into their own hands. What would any sensible person do? They freaking blow up most of the buildings in town.

It is a fantastic and brilliant episode... the shister may own the land, but he doesnt own the buildings. It's actually emotional seeing the Mercantile and other buildings destroyed one by one. They dont blow up the church/school or the Ingalls farm, but in the end, Walnut Grove made a difference. All the other towns facing the same dilemna vowed to do the same thing, effectively putting a damper in Mr. Shisters plans.

And the series comes to a close with the residents of WG marching off singing "Onward Christian Soldiers." And I usually end up with a tear in my eyes... long live Little House.