Connections

Friday night I met up with Kyle's best friend, Gary (or as we like to call him- THE SWOFF) along with his girlfriend Katie and her wonderfully charismatic and energetic friend, Mikey.

We drank- we laughed- we made a mess of inappropriate jokes- and I have to say- we connected. I'm not sure what kind of energy was flowing in that smokey atmosphere but it was a good one. Very potent in the positivity- a lot of love looming around. As my kin folk in The SC would say- them's good people....

It's really, really nice when you sincerely like your husband's best friend. We had our own moment last night when he shared with me that there are two women in his life that he trusts as far as opinions on the lady in his life. His mother and me. What do you say to that? Gee- thanks? That's a compliment- no, that's an honor not be taken lightly. I was floored. Well, Mr. Swafford- My opinion is this- SHE is simply lovely- a woman with more depth and perception than anyone I have met in a very very long time. She deserves happiness- give it to her.

Gary and Katie are in love-and they carry an energy between them that is palpable and dare I say- magnetic. Who knew a moment caught with the camera would confirm that so well.

The funny thing is- I would say the same thing about Katie and Mikey- And so as not to confuse anyone, Mikey is gay but wow- the chemistry between these two is nothing short of beautiful.

I would say that Katie and I are finding our own connection and it's comforting. We are very much alike and talking to her is a little easier than it should be. I'm considering firing my shrink.

Thanks for a great night you guys!

C-L-E-M-S-O-N!!!

It's almost here. It's like I can smell it or even taste it in the air. Football. 3 weeks. Football. 21 days. Football. It's becoming difficult to contain myself.

I wanted to let everyone know that the fam and I (along with several friends) will be loading up to head to The SC for the Clemson/Middle Tennessee State University game on September 5. You may know that Kyle graduated from MTSU and is utterly devoted to his Alma mater's growing football program and thinks they really have a chance. Isn't that so cute? I would like to go ahead and tell my husband that I'm sorry they lost and sure... it was pretty close.

It looks like we will have quite the crowd for this game! My BFF Heather and her husband, Jason, Kyle's BFF Gary and his friend Mikey. I am also bringing my friend Brittany. I am almost more excited for her to experience this than myself! She's going to absolutely fall in love! I am thrilled that my friends Steph and Emily will be making the game as well! Thanks to Steph, we will be sitting pretty behind the Esso, among that gorgeous jade green palmetto grass and those towering Carolina maples. I could name a hundred different things that I love about Stephanie Young, NOT including her picturesque tailgating oasis. But that certainly gives me an excuse to make it a hundred and one!

This picture was from the Clemson/Boston College game in 07. It goes into my memory bank as being pretty close to a perfect day! And that's not a label I use lightly. The game ended up being quite the heart breaker but I had the best time with these two amazing women! I think... no, I know that if these two girls and I lived closer together... we just might be inseparable!

I wish that I could find the right words to describe my personal adoration of Clemson football- for the school in general. It started at an early age, passed down graciously and feverishly from my father. My dad was devoted like no other. I vividly remember in the early 90's when he worked for Pepsi and his route included the Clemson campus. Every week he was able to interact with several of the guys on the football team. And he was like a kid at Christmas. I would listen to him talk about kidding around with Chester McGlockton, who went to the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1st round of the NFL draft in 92. My dad was so proud to say that, even if for a short while, Chester was his buddy. To this day, when I think of my Father, I think of him loud, laughing and wearing something orange.

Unlike many of my friends, I did not actually attend Clemson. I think at one point I told people this was because they didn't have a softball team and I really wanted to try and play ball somewhere. Truth was, I didn't have the money or grades to get in. But that's ok...everything works out how it should. I did, however, attend Clemson for other reasons. Reasons that mostly center around boys and beer. If that was a class, I would have been the star pupil.

My memories of my days at Clemson are some of the most cherished ones I own. I made wonderful friends, engaged in all kinds of debauchery, and learned about myself in the process. It was the most fun-loving and care-free time in my life and I am looking forward to re-visiting at least some of that on September 5. Good times will be had!

Random Memory of the Day

I just got off the phone with my friend Rachel.

She is one of the coolest people I know.

Rach and I met not long after I moved to Nashville and we have been pretty tight since. WOW- Has it really been almost 8 years?? That's seriously strange. I was very fortunate to meet someone with whom I would connect with so well. To still be such good friends after this long; surviving even the most fierce friendship killers like marriage and babies? Well, it's rare, but I was lucky.

This picture is one of my favorites although I will say Rach's tongue is seriously freaking me out. It literally looks like it is separate from her face!!! So I think that she and I, along with Kyle, were at the Sportsman's Grille in Hillsboro Village watching a football game. We had had several "beverages" and at this point were really having a great time. This is also where my infamous Profile Picture was taken. (I happen to think that "random foods stuck up your nose" is always funny! ) Anyway, I remember that Kyle and I were dealing with some stressful things around that time and we both needed to get out and let loose. No one else better to do it with than Rach!

She's also like the best secret keeper ever!

So there's my random memory of the day. To everyone else but Rach sorry to have wasted 2 minutes of your life.