Monday, April 20, 2009

My New Favorite Song

I'm pretty much in love with this song...I was struggling with things before break and heard this on my way to South Carolina. Music always speaks to my heart with a clarity that can't be replicated through other mediums.

Oh and did I mention that I went to college with Meredith Andrews. I always knew she'd make it big. I need to buy her CD so I can listen to all of her songs!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Spring Break!



Can I just say that this title and picture seem to be a bit of an oxymoron! I mean really, isn't Easter when we put away our winter clothes? Apparently, I left Florida...to visit winter! But I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

First of all, let me say...I know I'm a terrible blogger! I stopped blogging cause I was getting busy. First I had house buying stuff and my dad and mom visited. Then I started getting involved in my church and playing tennis. And then I had a rough month or so with school and some personal relationships....and then I had eye surgery and couldn't see! And somewhere in there my friend Steph came to visit again. Oh and I did a ton of races (a 10K, a 15K, 2 1/2 marathons, and 3 5Ks in 3 months!)

But I'm going to try to start posting again. So I thought I'd start with break! (And let me just tell you...I've never been so excited for a week off in my life!)

As soon as school was done (Friday March 20th) I rushed home to finish packing and cleaning and hit the road for Charleston. My friends Rachel and Stephanie met me at my Dad's townhouse and we ran in the Cooper River Run. Way fun...definite plans for an annual event! Though at one point I thought I would surely sustain a concussion from the fruit that was being thrown at the runners. (After the race...apparently it's difficult for 40,000 runners to move efficiently through lines to get food so the volunteers just started lobbing apples, oranges, and bananas at the crowds!)



I was exhausted from a crazy week, a long drive, and a very late arrival...so it wasn't my best run...but Steph and I stuck together and she got me through a very long 6.2 miles in just a little over an hour. Then we hung out in Charleston. It was my first time and I loved the open market. We even got interveiwed by the local station and Steph was on the 6 o'clock news.

It was great to see my dad and Kathy (his fiancee) and my uncle. My dad took us out for some awesome seafood at a local place and we slept in on Sunday! What a great weekend!

Then I headed to Tennessee where I spent my time visiting my former students, hanging out with friends, having eye surgery, and watching a lot of movies! On Saturday Rachel, Steph, and I drove up to Mt. Rogers, VA and saw Jes, Ben, and "Little Mel". (That's what I call Jes' baby; she refers to him as "Leroy")

Anyway...we did some very low key hiking and got to pet the wild horses. (There is a possibility that we also fed them...but don't tell any park rangers!) It was so cool! I want to go back one day when it's not as cold! (I didn't pack appropriate attire...luckily my sister had an extra sweatshirt of mine and I always keep a jacket in my car...but it was FREEZING!)



After spending a week in Tennessee, I got my bandage contact lens off on Easter Monday. Then I spend 10 hourse driving through the rain, trying to get used to my eyelid touching my eye again.

I still can't see very well and decided to sit out the next session of Tennis. But I'm hoping that by the summer, I'll be able to see clearly. If not, I guess I'll get a contact! :) And life will move on.

Lot's of you have been asking about my house. They got behind because of the weather but will be pouring the foundation on Tuesday. I'll post more on all of my decorating plans soon. (I promise!)

Friday, January 30, 2009

"Everybody's Doing It" (aka-25 Things)

1) I hate memes. I never do them. Of course that can't be entirely true because I'm doing this one.
2) I'm a terrible swimmer, but somehow I passed the lifeguarding test and got a job lifeguarding. If this scares you-it should. It scares me!
3) When I was in middle school I was sent to the principals office for calling my friend a B---- during gym class. (In my defense she tripped me!...Also we are still friends)
4) My first job was in Southpark Mall working at Pretzel Time and The Country's Best Yogurt (aka-TCBY). I still can't eat pretzels (do you know how much butter those places use...well I do!)...but I have no problems with ice cream!
5) Occasionally my boss (at Pretzel Time) would need someone to work at the kiosk he owned in the same mall. This kiosk sold Metabolife. There is a small possibility that I told customers that I took it and "it really worked" just to make sales. (What...we got a $2 commission on each a bottle! I can't help it if people are gullable and desperate after Christmas!)
6) When I was growing up, I collected clowns. Who does that!? I have over 100. They are in storage in Ft. Lee VA. I'm hoping that I can sell them on eBay whenever my parents get our things out of storage. I'm hoping there are other strange people who collect clowns!
7) I just tried to count the number of speeding tickets I've gotten in my life. I got to 9 and lost count.
8) Now that you know number 7, you should be quite frightened to know that I once held a license to drive an ambulance.
9) I now feel as though I should explain number 8. When I was 16-17 years old I was in an EMT program through my highschool. As part of our course we were trained and received certifications in First Aid, CPR, EMT, Hazardous Materials, something I can't remember, and Emergency Vehicle Operations. I had to drive an ambulance through lots of cone obstacles. One of these being backing the ambulance up through a serpentine. (Reminder: the rear view mirror of a bus looks at the patient!) Somehow I passed the test, but they had to wait until I was 18 (more than 6 months after my test) to actually give me my license. (so it came in the mail) Also noteworthy, there was no actual road portion to this test.
10) I've done a few (ahem) pageants in my life. I've only won one, and I can't even remember the name of it. All I know is that my mom said my imaginary friend's name was Miss America (I was 3...cut me some slack).
11) At Miss Preteen VA, I stood on the stage for nearly 5 minutes of dead silence as they tried to get my tape to cue. I finally had to be excused while the next person went. I was so nervous when I finally got to go that I forgot my dance and made one up on the spot. I think that was the start of my choreography career.
12) In the 4th grade I ran for SCA secretary. When I got on stage I froze and couldn't read my speech. To this day I have a dreadful fear of public speaking.
13) Somehow last year my coworkers convinced me to overcome this fear to speak in front of 450 people. I did it...but I doubt it'll ever happen again.
14) I love to sing, but I've always been afraid that I wasn't any good, so I rarely sing in front of people. Though I would love to be a country music singer turned contemporary christian artist.
15) I had a slight moment of confidence my senior year of high school for a strange 3 months. First, I sang the national anthem with my sister at a basketball game. And then sang "There is a Candle" with her at baccalaureate. Oh the things she can convince me to do. A month after graduation I sang "On My Knees" in Spanish on a mission trip. I've since gone back into hiding where my voice belongs.
16) If I could do anything in life, I'd be on broadway. Singing, dancing, and acting. Ah, to be a triple threat. (Jack of all trades, master of none...the curse)
17) I'm going to have my 7th eye surgery in April.
18) When I was growing up I hated having a lazy eye. I tried to paint my stupid pirate patch in art class. (Splatter paint-cause the 80s rocked). I lied to my mom and told her it was an accident. (Sadly, she probably believed me)
18) I give lots of reasons for not drinking alcohol. But the one that is probably the one that actually makes me obstain, I rarely say. Truth be told, drinking makes me cross-eyed. I've spent my life trying to keep people from noticing or commenting, (the mean kids in French III called me magic eye). It's why I don't make eye contact when I'm tired.
19) In high school I used to leave school to go to Chick Fil A for lunch...but then we bumped into my superintendent in the mall. Oops. (PS-the same principal from middle school was now at the high school. After he got a phone call, he decided to make the door by my locker his stake out spot everyday after fourth period....oh how I missed Chick Fil A)
20) In sixth grade I was writing a play and used the word "B------". I had no idea it was a bad word. Oops. At least my teacher believed me and I didn't end up in the principal's office.
21) My first apartment was $425/month...but we really wanted the washer and dryer so we splurged for the $460/month. We didn't know until we moved in that you had to pull this washing machine into the middle of the tiny kitchen (blocking access to your entire kitchen) to hook it up to the sink in order to actually wash clothes.
22) We also later found out that having dishes in the sink during this process causes ones sink to overflow onto the floor. (We found this out twice) We also discovered that using ones microwave while washing or drying clothes causes a fuse to blow. (We also found this out twice...or more)
23) A man broke into my second apartment. The only thing he stole was porn. (That sounds like we had some...but he just used our direct TV). We got rid of the chair.
24) I ran track in high school. I tried really hard and even ran on the weekends at home...but I came in last every time. The only exception to this was when I passed a girl from Prince George. As soon as this happened, she hurled on my shoes...but she kept on running...so I was second to last.
25) When I was young, I hated the beach. I didn't like sand, getting dirty, salt water, or waves. Now it's one of my favorite places.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Let's Face It...I"m No Maria Sharapova




I signed up for tennis lessons and I had my first one tonight! Let's just say my 10th grade gym teacher was not very successful in that unit of Physical Education. Though I distinctly remember playing in class, I can't remember her name or anything she taught me. And let me just tell you, I'm not a natural!

I might be athletic, but a girl who has no hand-eye coordination and has broken her elbow should probably not attempt this sport! I'm not expecting this to be a life-changing experience...I'm not even expecting to be good...but I am hoping that in 8 weeks, I will be able to play a game of tennis.

Tonight we learned how to grip the racket and hit the ball with a fronthand and backhand swing. There is so much to remember! I can't imagine it ever just feeling natural! But it was fun and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to play even if I'm still terrible! :)

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Guess what I did on my birthday?!?

*I'll give you a hint...I got to write "Jennifer R Kilpatrick, 1/21/09" just a few times. (And by "a few" I mean my hand almost fell off!)


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Because I haven't posted in forever...

I know it's been a while...Things have been crazy. But a good crazy. November was a really tough month for me, but I'm doing much better. It's been a learning time. I'm so thankful for those of you who have helped me through it...especially my VA friends that I got to see over Thanksgiving. You guys rock! Anyway, there's just way too much to post about. I promise I'll post for real soon, but for today I'm going to do Holly's Lists of 8's instead! :) And then it's back to cleaning, laundry, baking, packing, and wrapping Christmas gifts! :) I fly home in 2 days! :)

Eight Things About Me

8 t.v. shows I watch:
1. ER
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Biggest Loser
5. Privileged
6. Law & Order SVU
7. Ugly Betty
8. Army Wives

8 restaurants that I love:
1. Uno's (Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae)
2. TGIFriday's (Spinach Dip)
3. Outback (Chicken on the Barbie)
4. Texas Roadhouse (Bread!)
5. O'Charley's (Potatoe Soup & Rolls)
6. Panera Bread (Soup in a Bread Bowl)
7. Chick-Fil-A (Chicken Biscuit for Breakfast!)
8. Calhouns on the River (I just love sitting outside on the river in Knoxville!)

8 Things I did today:
1. Took the kitties to a friends to stay for the next 18 days! :(
2. Taught Reading to 8th Graders
3. Made Christmas Ornaments with 7th Graders
4. Analyzed a student's test results
5. Went to our staff luncheon (yum, I brought spinach dip and cookies!)
6. E-mailed a million times
7. Paid a ton of money to the cleaning lady and steam cleaner man (but atleast my friends' house is cat hair free for their Christmas visit)
8. Went running (but I have a bruised ankle, so it was short)

8 Things I Look Forward to:
1. Christmas at home with my grandma
2. Seeing Mary while I'm home
3. Reading books during break
4. New Year's with the fam in Disney
5. Walt Disney World Half and Cirque de Soleil! (Jan. 10th!)
6. Buying a house in the spring
7. Something I can't say yet! :)
8. Having a family one day

8 Things I am Wishing for:
1. to see SNOW for Christmas(haha...what, it's a wish!?)
2. to have a genuine love for my job
3. to find a church home
4. to be able to run the entire half and be proud of my time
5. to be able to keep me job and buy a house
6. to find "Mr. Right"
7. to be a mom one day
8. to go to Africa

8 People I'm tagging to do this:
1. Tiff (If she isn't in labor yet!) :)
2. Olivia
3. Sam
4. Erin
5. Kathie
6. Mary
7. Ashley
8. Emily

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Breaking News in Northeast Florida

The following is tonight's weather report. I'm not making it up...


WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EST
WEDNESDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN JAX HAS ISSUED A WIND
CHILL ADVISORY.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EST
WEDNESDAY.

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA IS BRINGING VERY COLD
AIR TO THE REGION. IN ADDITION NW WINDS WILL REMAIN AT 10
TO 15 MPH OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL TEMPS
FALLING TO AROUND 25 DEGREES LATE TONIGHT.ESPECIALLY ALONG THE
BEACHES & ST. JOHNS RIVER WHERE WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR NE FL WHEN WIND
SPEEDS ARE AT OR ABOVE 10 MPH & WIND CHILLS ARE BELOW 25 DEGREES
FOR FOUR OR MORE HRS.

LOW WIND CHILLS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE & LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA
IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS.MAKE
SURE YOU WEAR A HAT & GLOVES.


Hypothermia in Florida. Isn't that statement a bit of an oxymoron? Joking aside, it is uncharacteristically cold today. I'm not looking forward to my run. But I might get to turn my heat on tonight! :)

(I'm frugile, so I have this deal with myself that I won't turn it on until it gets below 60 in the house. For the record, my thermostat loves to hover at 61.) :)

I hope you are all staying warm up in "the north"! :) (Sam feel free to read that last statement without quotation marks, since you are my only reader who truly lives in The North.) :)