Category Archives: update

First third reflections

My to do list is sitting right beside my keyboard, glowering at me that I dare to take the time to move “blog” up on the priority list. However, every day, lost among the names of people I need to email — either with questions, thanks or just to follow-up on something — always is my long-time creative outlet of written word. Sometimes you just have to tell the rest of the world to wait a minute, and you do your thing.

My husband commented once that, “You always have someone to email.” And he’s right. I suppose to live and die by my email these days. But I love the paper trail it gives me, and I hate making phone calls. So it’s a win/win situation in that respect. But in the same breath, sometimes it gets overwhelming and you really do start to feel like you’re being pulled in multiple directions at once.

As a result, a third of the year 2017 is almost over, and I feel like in some ways I’ve barely acknowledged it began. The first part of the year is always busy with tax season, as I go back and forth from Nashville to Texas. I am so grateful I can help with the family business, and the time I get with family and long-time best-friends is so priceless.

With Mom & Dad on Easter Sunday

Touring season started early this year for my husband, which worked well with me being gone so much this first third of the year. I wasn’t home any way, so he might as well be out working as well! But now that I am settling back into Nashville full-time, I’m having to get into the mode of not seeing him (more importantly, get reacquainted with lots of alone time!) and working around his crazy schedule.

Last Friday was Aggie Muster. This was my ninth year organizing it here in Middle Tennessee. Luckily big parts of it I now have on auto-pilot, but even more importantly I have people who are absolute rock stars taking parts of the job off my plate. I don’t get nearly as stressed as I did in the past! It went off so smoothly this year, and we’re already formulating a plan for 2018.

Middle Tennessee A&M Club Muster – 2017

I love Muster. It humbles me. It lifts me up. It embodies what it means to be a Texas Aggie.

Now with Muster behind me, though, I can shift a lot of my focus over to the ACC-SEC-B1G Golf Tournament I’ve helped with the last several years. Fixing up the flyer for it is on the to do list that is glaring at me.

I have photography things on my mind as well. In a long story short, I have in my possession a lot of camera gear that once belonged to our wedding photographer. He passed away a couple years ago, and to now have his gear… well, it too humbles me and challenges me to work harder at making my work as a photographer better. His love for photography and his memory will most certainly live on… Of this I promise myself, his memory and his (and my!) loved ones who believe in me.

Texas Bluebonnets

One thing about the first third of this year, I certainly didn’t lose any of that “winter weight” one puts on through the holidays. Definitely time to make some changes in how active I am as well as in how I eat. Baby steps there, though. It’s been very Oregon in Nashville recently, as it seemed to rain non-stop for three days. I’m ready for some outside exercise time. I’m also ready to plant some veggies in my yard for healthy eating this summer.

I have lots of home projects I want to do. My  husband may just come home off the road one weekend and not recognize his own home. Wouldn’t that be crazy and cool all at the same time?

I am sure with all I have on my year’s wishlist (as well as that ever-changing and pesky to-do list), the next third of the year will pass just as fast at the first third did. I am not in any need to rush it, though. Time to take a moment to smell the roses and enjoy the world around me.

Even if it means putting it on the to do list.

103/365 : Another sunset

2014…

I suppose it’s time to do a yearly recap and look forward to the next year. I’ve had hours on end in a vehicle to reflect and dream, going to and from Texas for Christmas.

Everyone always says, “Where did the year go!? Time sure does fly!” This is one year, however, in which I go, “It’s been a long, full, good year.” Because it was.

2014 –

– we visited Oregon and spent time with my husband’s family. We were blessed with unseasonably warm and sunny days while we were there.

– We saw Steve Wariner twice and we got to catch Merle Haggard at the Ryman. I saw Jack Ingram in Houston, and The Departed in Temple, TX. We saw Wade Hayes do a show, and I again got to attend the Opry when my husband played. I never take any of these for granted.

– on my birthday, I had four country music recording artists wish me a happy birthday. While all are people I consider friends today, the old high school aged fan girl in me squeeeeeeed every time.

– I got a whole new smile. It was honestly something I never thought would happen nor put much thought into… But now that it’s happened, I love it and definitely feel a different confidence today than before the makeover.

– I felt it my honor to help raise money for both MDA and CASA. Both are amazing organizations and both have come to be deep in my heart.

– went to San Antonio, TX to see my nephew play with the high school band, which has been named the state honor band. Flew home for my niece’s 13th birthday. Got to attend relatives’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. Made it to Texas for a whirlwind Christmas trip. Family is so very, very important.

– worked. A lot. But this year I brought in my personal best income for the year. I’ve worked hard for it. It feels good to say that! But I’m also now terrified of how much I’ll owe in taxes. LOL Being self employed rocks up to tax season. Then it’s, “Aw man!”

– we experienced negative wind chills. And I didn’t like it.

– made it through Fall without getting a sinus infection. First time that’s happened In years!

– got a Fitbit and lost 10 lbs. Pretty sure I found them back over Christmas, though. Oops!

– was quoted in a book about Texas High School football. I still need to order my own copy of it, and I have to admit I pinch myself about it.

– took lots of photos and have sold a bunch of canvas prints of some of them. Maybe this picture taking thing is more viable than I thought.

– we bought a house. Let me repeat that. WE BOUGHT A HOUSE. I’m still pinching myself, and I admit… I am super excited to do some serious nesting come January.

– came to really realize how blessed and rich we are in friendships. I’ve been humbled by the amazing souls around me more times than I can count in the last year. And I am so thankful.

– I was on TV a few times talking about Printers Alley. And we are having to say good bye to the bar I’ve worked at the last 7.5 years in one capacity or another. I’ve put more heart and soul into this bar than even I realize sometimes, and I am slowly finding myself more and more scared and lost realizing it won’t be there any more.

– started laying groundwork for the biggest project and potentially life-changing career plans. I’ll talk more about this in the future, but suffice to say there are exciting things on the horizon.

So. Yeah. It’s time to start a new chapter… Chapter 2015. I’m admittedly a little scared. I’m going into the new year with so many variables that I can not predict, but I’m also very, very excited. Praying for health, happiness and prosperity… For myself and all those around me.