The other night, "All Out of Love" came on my iPod in the car. Joey and I were on the way to Kroger. When the song came on, I started laughing. Joey wanted to know what was so funny to me about the song. I explained it wasn't the song, but what memory it brought back to my mind.

If you don't know it by now, Nashville, TN is my hometown. It's where my grandparents lived. It's where my parents grew up. It's where I was born. While I only lived in Nashville as a baby, I have plenty of memories of that place from all the times I visited the city. Grandmother lived in South Nashville. Grandma and Grandpa lived in East Nashville. And how my parents met at school in Gallatin, I don't know. But they did. Well, being that my family lived in 2 different parts of town, we did a lot of traveling between the two parts of towns. Usually, my family stayed at Grandmother's and drove to Grandma and Grandpa's. The route we took usually had us get on I-24 at Murfreesboro Rd. and take it "west" to Shelby Ave. During the trip, I-40 and I-65 meet up with I-24.

As a young child in the early 1980s, I recall after I-65 and I-24 meet up, there was this billboard for Twitty City. The thing was for up for years. On it was this big picture of Conway Twitty and this knockoff of Tweety Bird. It was a benchmark to denote we were close to our exit on the Interstate. At the same time, Air Supply was big on the radio. I recall hearing their music as a child. I had also seen them a few times on TV. In my child mind, at times, I thought Russell Hitchcock was Conway Twitty. In due time, I realized they were 2 different people. But when you're 3-4-years-old, they are the same guy by virtue of having the same hairstyle! I can't listen to Air Supply, even to this day, without ever seeing the Twitty City billboard of my childhood. When I explained this story to Joey, he laughed. He could see how, as a child, I could confuse the 2.

I know the billboard is long gone. Conway Twitty's been dead for years. However, I'd like to see that billboard once again. I'd like to remember the times when I was a young, innocent girl that had a interesting mind. Those memories of the early 1980s are sweet and dear to me.

[♪ Listening to: "Islands In The Stream" - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton]

ACM Activity Night
Uploaded by peachy92.

The war is a massive headache. The chemical weapon is going to be is a Coke. Yesterday, I picked up my new glasses. I didn't get a chance to wear them until last night. I woke up this morning with a massive headache that's been lingering all day. It's strain related to my glasses. I can't avoid it. I haven't had a new pair in over 5 years. And the last few times I've gotten a new pair of glasses, I'd have a massive headache for a few days until I adjusted to the glasses. I'd put on my contacts, but I've been wearing them so much lately, my eyes need to have several hours without the thin pieces of plastic over them. So, I'm going to do what I can to get used to the glasses and relieve the pain: drink a Coke. The caffeine works wonders. My dad even suggested the Coke this morning. I had one chug of Coke and the headache has decreased in intensity.

Last night, we did end up having the ACM fun night. Only a few of us showed up. For the officers, it was just me and Mike, our vice-chair. The 3 Guys That Need A Ride came, too. I provided a ride to them. Lindsey and Chris showed as well. I was really ticked that our Chair did not come to the event. It doesn't look good for us, in my opinion. But, we did have fun. We broke up into 2 groups: all the ACM guys together and Lindsey/Chris/Shawn. At first, we played miniature golf. Lindsey won in our group. We ended up giving Chris a few mulligans. I think his engineering mind came into play during the game. He ended up overcompensating his putt as a result. After our round of golf, we went over to the go-carts.

I'm 28-year-old. Last night was the first time I got to really drive a go-cart. My cousin Michael had one when we were kids. I think I got to ride in it once. The only reason I got ride in it is because my mother wasn't around and my dad didn't see it to be a problem. I love my mother, but she was very overprotective. She wouldn't let me go fishing with my day camp group when I was 10 because she was afraid I'd drown. I'm a late bloomer to many things as a result. Go-carting is one. However, I enjoyed it! It was easy to remember how to drive it. Red on the left meant brake, which is similar to clutch in my car. Green on the right meant gas, which is standard on all cars. I drove on the road course twice. I rode on the figure 8 track once.

Our whole group was on the figure 8 track at once. As I drove it, I kept referring to NASCAR in my mind. I would have black flagged Joseph on track since he did slow traffic for everyone. Lindsey and I kept trying to pass him, but we couldn't. Jeremy would have been flagged as well for going too fast on pit road. When our turn had ended on the figure 8 track, we had to drive the cars back into the pit. Lindsey and I were stopped waiting for Joseph to get into the pit. The entrance to pit road was on a curve. Jeremy just didn't pay attention to the fact the ride was over. He took the curve at full speed, rammed into Lindsey and me, and then continued on the track. He was the last one in. He's a very competitive person and takes everything as a race or contest. Lindsey and I weren't racing. We were just driving. He's a nice guy, but this everything's a race mentality is going to injure someone one day.

[♪ Listening to: "Vultures" - John Mayer]

Yeah, I should be working on my senior project. I'd say "Sue me," but I said that last night on Fark. Another Farker threatened to serve me his subpoena. Seems I have a way of attracting guys on Fark like moths are attracted to the bug zapper. I have a queue of Farkers waiting for me.

I am feeling 100% better than I did yesterday. Joey invited me over for dinner again last night. I got a spaghetti dinner out of it, plus a chance to vent and escape my family. I can vent about my depression to him because he knows where I'm coming from. He's seen it all. He can give me a perspective that other people can't. And that's what I need in my life at the moment. I paid him back by staying after dinner and helping him with his Milestone 2 for his Systems Analysis project. Not only have I taken the class before him, the project he's working on is the same project I had in the class. So, unlike me, he's got some one in his back pocket that has been there, done that, in regards to IT classes.

Prior to dinner, we stopped at Kroger to get some garlic bread for the spaghetti. I may not cook, but I can contribute ideas to dinner. I wanted some garlic bread. So, we go through the checkout line. Joey insists for the prices he's (in this case, me) paying at the store, someone is going to ring him up. He's not going through the self-checkout line. The lady ringing me up looks at my necklace. I happen to have on the cross necklace my mother got me at Wal-Mart in 2004. It's the one she got me just before my Grandpa's funeral in 2004. That time was a depressing chapter in my life. I wear the necklace as a way to see God in life and to see the brighter side of things. The lady just studies the necklace and looks at Joey. She asked Joey did he pick it out for me. I simply remarked my mother got it from me. It's not the first time stuff like this has happened to me. MAS and I would be the campus bookstore and the checkout person assumed we were a couple. They may not have flat out said anything, but the actions by the person implied they thought we were a couple.

Last night's test was ok. I didn't do as well this time as last time. However, my grade was still one of the better ones in the class. I'll take that. I just need a C in that class. That's all.

Tonight, the ACM, weather permitting, is going to have an activity night. We're going to play miniature golf and drive go-carts. It should be fun. I'm giving 3 of the guys in the group a ride out there. Lindsey plans to attend, too. It will be nice to hang out with her and Chris again. I missed them 2 weeks ago when I went to Atlanta and Copperhill.

Ok, now back to school work. Just give me my degree!

[♪ Listening to: "The Heart of Life" - John Mayer]

The closer I get to graduation, the more I nervous breakdowns I will have. And last night, before bed, and this morning, after I woke up, I had one. It was the same one, just interrupted by sleep. It's scary to know I don't know what's ahead of me. I have so many emotions running through my head at the moment. And I don't have a single person to express these feelings to. Sure, I know I'm not alone. I know I have friends. But I don't feel comfortable to express all these feelings of insecurity and self doubt to them. And I cry because I have to keep these feelings to myself. I can't express these feelings to my father. He has his own issues and just can't cope with mine. I miss my mother. I miss having her around and just listening to me and encouraging me. Any one want to leave me a virtual hug?

So, what brought this on? Yesterday, I had to turn in the draft of my senior project report. It sucks, but it's 130+ pages and done. One of my classmates remarked that by turning it in and being near finished with our work, we've just about guaranteed graduation for us. And that scares me. Also, according to Joey's ex-girlfriends, I'm dating him. That's news to me. No, we're not dating. One dinner makes a date it does not. Hanging out !=boyfriend. Seems I have developed a reputation where I can befriend guys, but not be the girlfriend; I also make the girlfriends jealous and angry as hell. I want to know what I'm doing wrong. Why am I still single? That whole situation is just annoying. Everything is piling up. I'm more stressed out about graduation fears.

I can be quite mean to Joey, actually. Yesterday's a good case in point. I made a trip to Target with my friend, Wes. I bought an air freshener for the ACM room and foot spray. Why? Because Joey's feet stank and it was driving me nuts. In most cases, I would have done nothing and put up with it.

Tonight, I have an exam in E-Commerce. I fear that class might drive me bonkers. We've know about our group project for a week, and nothing's been done about it. And against my good judgment, I'm the group leader. Yea! More stress for me.

I guess I'll shut up and do the Thursday Threesome:

Onesome: Women-- buy more cars than men? True or false? Heck, I have no clue; I'm just curious about your opinions... Well, I did work with this women for 2 years that went through 3 cars in that span.

Twosome: or-- Jo~Ann or Michaels? Which place would you use to buy your crafty stuff? I mean, Christmas is coming and gift cards would be lovely; let's get the word out now <g>! I go to A.C. Moore.

Threesome: Men-- are better chefs than women? Bobby Flay or Rachel Ray? True or false? Sure, you can go all Food Network if you'd like (Paula can make my dessert any day; butter, butter, butter!), but who's grilling your ribs? I don't have the time nor the space to learn to cook. The last people that cooked for me were my dad, Joey, and Lindsey and Chris. Later this month, Melissa and her husband Chris will be making a Wesley Foundation dinner. One of my goals in life is to get my own place so I can learn to cook on my own.

My morning ride in Windsor Forest was a trip. I had passed Stillwood and was approaching Deerfield when my path was blocked by a cop. The cop blocked the road so a tow truck could remove a car from the ditch in the middle of Windsor Rd. I think the thing that pissed me off is that the cop could have blocked Windsor Rd. off at intersection with Stillwood. A small traffic jam and waiting 5 minutes could have been avoided by me and the people behind me. However, that would have been too easy and too polite! Just as I get pass the tow truck and get into the traffic circle for Windsor and Largo, I get a phone call from Joey needing a ride to campus. Being that his need really wasn't out of my way, I went and got him. But, because of the tow truck now blocking Deerfield, the road I needed, I had to take the long way to get to his house. At least I was not late to Golf.

Golf was fine. We had to play a few holes on the course. I went over par on all the holes, but the coach was happy with my progress, considering my ultra-noob status at the game. I'm not too bad at the short game. My problem is getting distance on the ball from tee. I just can't do it with the big honking driver in my bag. It's too much club for me. I have no control of the head. I suck at the other 2 distance clubs I have. I have a test on driving and putting next week; it's my last class. Today, we had to turn in our take home exam. I got a 93 on the last one.

I had a PEZ dispenser moment in Wesley Foundation. We were watching a Nooma video our guest pastor, Rob of Isle of Hope, brought for us to view for sermon. The video was about anger and hate. Dear Lindsey got me going. She muttered under her breath, as the video was rolling, that she knows what she hates. I looked down at the guys in front of us and just started laughing. The guys sitting in front of us are the 2 guys in Foundation that just drive us nuts with their selfishness. I just started laughing. At one point, Jessie got on me for laughing. I just couldn't help it. Laughter is a wonderful thing. I rather be laughing than sulking. And the situation just led to me laughing. The video was an interesting video and had all of us laughing at one point because we could relate to the poor guy in the store.

My time between lunch and Digital Photography class was spent just taking a break and caring for Joey. Poor guy was falling asleep when he wasn't busy trying to clear his sinuses out. Seems he was exposed to an allergen this weekend and his sinuses were paying the price. He was falling asleep at the computer with the Benedryl he had taken earlier in the day. Finally, he had enough. So, he gave me a $20. I ran to the nearest drugstore and got him sinus stuff. I did it because it was the right thing to do. I would want someone to do the same for me if I was sick. He finally called off classes, so I took him home. Hope he gets enough sleep.

We got a reprieve in Digital Photography. The assignment for Wednesday has been pushed back to next Monday. That gives me enough time to work more on the symmetry assignment. Several of us are having trouble. Before class, I arranged a game of Boggle up symmetrically. I took a few shots of that. My grades for my last assignments were good. I got 95 on my photos. I got a 100 on my biography.

[♪ Listening to: "Time After Time" - Blaque]