bristol baby :)

I woke up that day at 7:00, after only four hours of sleep.

I don’t know what kept me up all night. It must have been excitement.

The boys were foraging through the house like army ants, picking up coolers, koozies, grills, chapstick, chairs – anything they could get their hands on that we might need.

It was my first Bristol race, so they let me watch from the sidelines.

Everything fit into the Suburban and the El Camino like pieces of a well-crafted puzzle. I was highly impressed.

By the time us girls woke all the way up, attempted to eat breakfast and got ourselves ready, it was 9:30 – time for departure.

We made only one stop – at the Food City – to fill our coolers with beverages and ice and use the last flushing restroom we’d see for hours.

Traffic into Bristol wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. We pulled into the group’s regular spot at the Red Barn Campground and unloaded. By 11, we were settled in and warming up for our first round of Redneck Golf.

If you’ve never played this game, you might not understand the awesomeness of what happened next. But for you seasoned veterans, I’m proud to announce that my partner and I went undefeated that day. It was my first time playing, but I finally got the hang of tossing those strung-together golf balls onto the PVC pipe goal posts.

I was a natural athlete on a team with another natural athlete. I hate it for everyone who had to play against us.



As the day grew warmer, we watched helicopters fly the racecar drivers onto the grounds. That excitement was heightened as the qualifying rounds began, the roar of revving engines echoing through the campsite.

We grilled up some hamburgers and hot dogs and sat on Juanita’s tailgate (that’s the El Camino) for lunch. We made friends with our neighbors, who were nice enough to take our group photos and even let us use their rented port-a-potty. (It was only slightly less gross than the public ones at the bottom of the hill, but it was definitely closer.)



We searched the campground and our Blackberries, but never found a poll for the Nationwide Series race. We had to place our bets, however, so we all just threw in five bucks each and took turns drawing numbers that represented starting positions.

I didn’t realize at the time, but my numbers – two, four and 17 – were great numbers. Carl Edwards had qualified second and Kyle Busch fourth.

We headed toward the track, weaving through the vendors and campers and race fans. I’ve been to the speedway before for drag races and car shows, but it looks a heck of a lot different when it’s got that race day glow.



After unsuccessfully trying to catch a ride on a Roto-Rooter truck, one of the boys complimented a go-kart driver on his wheels and scored us two seats. Unfortunately, there were eight of us walking, and the rest had to keep hiking. (I’m counting the walk up there and back as my cardio for the weekend. Holy cow.)



We had great seats – Richard Petty Terrace, Section C, Row 28, on the second turn – and my adrenaline started pumping as the pace car took the track for the countdown to green.




There were my cars – number 60, Carl Edwards, in the neon green in the second position, and number 18, Kyle Busch, in the black car with the red and white letters, in fourth.



“Gentlemen, start your engines.”

Before I knew it, Edwards and Busch were in first and second. I was so excited that I barely spoke for the first 100 laps. Instead, I screamed at the top of my lungs, stood up, sat down, stood up again and took picture after picture.

I’d predicted I’d lose interest after a few laps and head back to the campsite, but before I knew it, it was lap 200 and my boys were still in the lead.

Sometime later, I had to take a bathroom break. In retrospect, I see I should have never left the stadium. While I was gone, Busch left pit row after his team let a tire roll out during his final pit stop, penalizing him to start as the last car on the lead lap.

I got back to my seat just in time to watch Kevin Harvick (not one of my drivers, in case you missed that) lead the last 10 laps of the race, with Edwards right behind him and Busch coming back to finish sixth.

Despite my disappointment, my first Bristol race was perfect. I had a great time with some great friends, and I won a really sweet Richard Petty pocketknife as a consolation prize.

I admit, on the ride home that next day, I even listened to the last half of the Food City 500. (Kyle Busch and his pit crew redeemed themselves, by the way. They took home first place.)

I can’t believe I lived right down the road from Bristol for 10 years and never attended a race. I had no idea how much fun I’ve been missing. I can’t wait till August.

just a lil update

Hello.

I'm still alive... Just wanted to let you know!

Life has been crazy, with the holidays and all that come with them. I'm just getting over a sinus infection :*(

I have a lot of stories and photos to share, as soon as I get caught up on all the work I've missed.

Hope you're all doing well!

ox

Samara

Looking for love?

So, at the ripe old age of 28, I find myself single and loving it. I'm testing the waters as far as love goes, but lately, I'm asking myself one dumbfounding question: Who is it I'm looking for?

After a couple hours of reflection, and a morning of instant messaging with my roomie Meg, we realized that we don't need much when it comes to a significant other. Then Meg wrote a blog about it. And then I went to her page and stole it.

For your reading pleasure.............

(reprinted, with permission, from my roommate Meghan's blog)



Summing It Up
Current mood: silly
Category: Romance and Relationships

It's tough to be a single girl (or guy, I suppose) these days. Especially if you're at all fond of spending QT with a member of the opposite sex. One person I know who seems to have it all figured out, is my girl S-train.

She can tell you what she's looking for in a mate...We talked about it this morning and wrote a personal ad that describes Samara's Mr. Perfect quite nicely:

swf iso sm 28-32 no kids/ex wives. must be a handy man & appreciate bluegrass. breakdancing & home cooked gourmet meals required.

How great to sum it up in less than thirty words! I think it should be quite simple to find a breakdancing, gourmet food cooking, bluegrass loving homebuilder. I mean, guys like that are everywhere, right? I wish her all the luck in the world. At least she has some idea of her specifications.

I, on the other hand, prefer to fly by the seat of my proverbial pants and watch what happens. Most often, things never get off the ground, but some times I wonder if I don't prefer it that way. While I'm not much for making lists (or sticking to the ones I actually do write down), in the spirit of capturing my Mr. Perfect in thirty words or less, I wrote an ad of my own.

sf iso m. uses good grammar. kid & dog friendly. must want commitment and not want commitment. trash & laundry service a plus.*

Talk about some high standards and tight pecs! I mean specs...Cross your fingers for me, okay?

*Note: Said standards are subject to change at any given moment depending on my mood and your behavior, or my perception thereof.

I had a morning rant for breakfast

Well I'm pissed at myself this morning.

I am so forgetful.

Monday I attended a luncheon to honor all the judges of Hamilton County. I told my boss I'd make a CD of all the photos I took and take it to the executive director of the bar association so she could sort through them and pick out her favorites. (My deadline for the photo selection is tomorrow.) Today – Thursday – he asked if I'd done that. Of course, I forgot.

Yesterday, I offered – on behalf of my office – to buy a sympathy card for the publisher of my paper, whose mother died. I forgot.

Today, for lunch, I told my wonderful roommate to invite her friend to lunch with us – my treat. I purchased a $50 gift certificate for $25 a few months ago to a restaurant downtown. I'm supposed to be writing my column on it this week, and it would be fun to have a girls' lunch and spend it all in one sitting.

I got my tote bag out of the car – the front pocket of which has been home to said gift certificate for the whole three months I've owned it – and it's gone. I've ransacked my desk, my laptop bag, my purse, my tote bag. Nothing. I'm sure I took it out and put it somewhere important, only I've forgotten where that somewhere is.

Why is it that I have all these great ideas – these wonderful, thoughtful, fantastic ideas – and then I always find a way to screw them up?

Granted, I'm probably being melodramatic. I know that's my tendency and I embrace it. But I don't care.

I realize these three things don't seem like a big deal. But they are. To me. because they were totally in my control and I effed them up by not writing them down on a list or in a calendar somewhere.

(This is where the blackberry I want so bad would come into play, if only I had one.)

I think that's one big problem we all face, though, is figuring out what we're in control of and what we're not. A million things pop into my mind as I type this… should I get into it? Oh, why not… the election is over. I might as well spill my guts now.

I have had about all I can take with this economic bailout. This is one very obvious thing the government thinks it can control, but can't. (At least to me and a lot of other intelligent, logical people I know.)

Let's break this down to the commonly-known facts. We'll start with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

When the Clinton administration ran the world, the economy "boomed." Does anyone know why? Because the business industry became so deregulated. Do we know what that means? They took away the rules – the standards to which corporations were held. Democrats (and I mean this in the most loving, caring way) wanted everyone in the country to have a fair chance at wealth - a fair chance at becoming a homeowner and "living the American Dream." So they deregulated the housing industry… and by doing so, they inadvertently made it acceptable for people to be dishonest.

Do you realize? Banks were accepting "stated incomes" on loan applications. People were walking in to get mortgages, telling banks they made $200,000 a year and the banks were giving them loans without proof of income. These people's mortgage payments were then set at $2,000 a month, which they could not afford.

AND NOW THEY'RE IN FORECLOSURE AND OUR GOVERNMENT IS BAILING OUT THE BANKS WHO ARE SUFFERING AS A RESULT OF IT.

I'm sorry people, but I don't get it. Yes, I agree 100 percent that the fuckers who administered these loans should be fired – even jailed. As a matter of fact, in the fall of 2001, there was a nationwide federal sting operation in place to arrest each and every one of these crooks who were lying on the loan applications.

But then guess what happened – September 11.

And guess what would have happened, had Bush continued to focus on the housing industry instead of the war on terror – his ass would have been impeached.

You know it. Don't deny it. You'd have had his head on a silver platter if he hadn't infiltrated the Middle East and produced something – even if it was just Saddam's head on a platter.

So now, here we are – dealing with all these problems that are so obviously Bush's fault… only they aren't. In reality, we're dealing with things that are direct results of the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION people.

Don't get me wrong – I liked Clinton. Granted, when he was in office I didn't know anything about politics. I voted for him in my high school election and had no clue why my dad called me an idiot. (He loves me, I swear. He's just a no-holds-barred kind of conservative.)

And now, here we are. It's 2008. Another liberal has been elected to office and what are we hearing on the news? A proposed bailout for the automobile industry is on the table.

REALLY?

What are we teaching ourselves here? It's OK to make bad decisions because the government will do whatever it takes to clean up the shit trail you leave behind?

Do you know where this money is coming from? This money for the bailouts? Our country has an ENORMOUS deficit. That means we have more debt than money…. Get it? So where is this bailout money coming from?

The government is going to print trillions – yes TRILLIONS of dollars with NOTHING TO BACK IT UP. So, as we sit here and wallow in self-pity because our housing and automobile industries are crumbling, our gas prices are fluctuating and no one will help us, our government is cooking up bright ideas to "save" the economy. And those "bright ideas" include printing WORTHLESS MONEY.

And we wonder why the American dollar is losing value?

If I went home tonight and printed a trillion dollars of my own, how much do you think it would be worth? Geez…..

I guess if I'm going to bring this rant back full circle, I have to say that the government needs to realize this – THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE ECONOMY.

Economy, by definition, is a system of exchange and distribution, of buying and selling, of highs and LOWS. As horrible as things seem to be right now, there is no need to panic. As gas prices – and therefore food prices – come down, we will slowly start pumping money back into the economy. Cars will start to sell again.

Now that the housing industry is re-regulated, only people who can AFFORD homes are qualifying to buy them. Slowly but surely, the housing market is picking up again.

I'm worried about the state of our nation – not because we are in a recession right now. The word "recession" doesn't even scare me. It's a natural slope to the (as my ACCOUNTANT roomie Meghan puts it) "unhealthy peak" we've been enjoying for so many years now. SHIT HAPPENS!

What scares me is having a people-pleasing, liberal government who tries to put a VERY EXPENSIVE, UNREALISTIC bandaid on a problem that will fix itself if we just let it.

I would honestly love to hear thoughts on all this. I am truly intrigued by people who don't agree with, or at least appreciate, these views.

I am not a diehard Republican. Hell, I'm not even a Republican. I'm a registered Independent.

I won't even say I'm conservative. I'll just say this - I like to think for MYSELF, in my own logical way, not based on what a party tells me to believe.

And I think logically and can honestly say that a LOT of people in the highest offices of our country obviously don't.

Thoughts?

I'd especially like to hear from Obama supporters. Especially you, Howze. My aforementioned roommate is one of you guys. And she shares all the views about which I just ranted.... so there!

And don't get me wrong... I like Obama. I think he's great. His family reminds me of a modern-day Huxtable family and I am literally ALL FOR the Huxtables running the country.

But seriously though, I really want to know what ya'll think. Comment. Let me know.

Peace out, yo.

ox

Life is good.

Hello world!

I'm feeling a bit Carrie Bradshaw at the moment... I find myself narrating life in my head as it happens - and I think it's because I'm so damn happy!

Nothing much has really happened lately... and by that I mean, "no drama!" I love my life right now. It's stress free, and for the first time in a long time, I'm living 100 percent for what makes ME happy!

Nowadays, as I walk down the street, I take the time to smile at the people passing me by. I can just FEEL the happiness transfer, from my face to theirs, as a grin crosses their faces... It's amazing!

I recently finished a new audio book - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It's my first Harry Potter experience (yes, I know, I'm behind the times) and I loved it. I popped it in on the way to Johnson City a couple weeks ago and listened to it nonstop the whole way there, the whole way back and every minute I could until I'd finished it! I can't wait to get the next one... I love audio books! I love J.K. Rowling!

I love my living situation. I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful roommate, who I can talk to every second of the day (literally - text, phone, email, IM) and never get sick of. Go figure! We get along great. Our personalities complement each other. And even when we disagree (mostly on politics), we do it in intellectual, respectful ways. More people need these kind of relationships in their lives.

I love my job. I've been working at the paper over a year, but I'm not sick of it! It keeps getting more interesting. My story assignments never get old. I'm using my own voice in my column more and more these days, and I even have a handful of readers who comment on the Weekly Indulgence regularly!

I love my family. Well, you probably already knew that. But I'm feeling so great right now, and I'm missing them so much, I thought I'd go ahead and share that too. :)

I'm looking forward to spending Halo-ween with my sister, Beth, and all my old friends... and spending the next night in Greeneville, and spending the next day throwing LeAnn the BEST 80S BABY SHOWER EVER! I'm looking forward to making a little extra cash, and getting caught up on my finances, just in time for the holidays. (By the way, I've already got most of my shopping done! What's REALLY going on here?)

Life is good. Life is real good. And I'm vowing to myself, right here and now, to never let it get anything less than good again!

I just had to share these revelations with you and whoever else wants to know. I hope things are great in your neck of the woods!

oxox

Prenup for Singles?

I have never been married. I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing – but either way, it's true.

That being said, I have suffered my fair share of breakups. But thankfully, that's always been done outside of court. (Although I think a mediator would have been quite useful a time or two.)

The one thing I'll never understand is why, when two people end a romantic relationship, their mutual friends feel obligated to choose one side or another. I know it is possible for people to remain friends with both parties. I've been that mutual friend before and, as uncomfortable as it may be at first, I know it is absolutely doable.

Perhaps there should be some sort of written rulebook about the division of friends after a breakup.

For instance, if only one party hung out with a friend, and the other party only hung out with said friend by default, then the original party gets to keep the friend.

However, if the second party establishes a relationship with the friend, making him or her a "mutual" friend, then the estranged couple should share joint custody of the friend after the split, making everyone happy (and only slightly uncomfortable).

Likewise, if both parties become friends with another couple, each relationship should stand alone, as its own separate entity. Obviously special occasions – such as birthdays and holidays – are going to be awkward. But, as in the case of child custody, it seems as though adults should be able to work out arrangements that are both fair and fun for all parties involved.

As I type out these proposals, they strike me as quite absurd. Surely grown men and women should be able to work out amicable resolutions to such simple disputes on their own, without any rules.

However, as I type this, I am thinking about a specific event – one that happened a mere two weeks ago, when my ex and I faced off for the 30th birthday extravaganza of my friend (who also happens to be his best friend's wife).



The day began with a series of text messages.

"Is he going to be there? I don't want to run into him. I really hope he doesn't come."

"I don't think he's coming. I'll call you later once I find out for sure."

As childish as this sounds, it was completely necessary. I knew I could handle any given situation, but I wanted her birthday to be one for the record books. I mean, you only turn 30 once. Heaven forbid some petty little fight mess that night's memories.

As her surprise dinner approached, the text messaging transferred from the wife to the husband.

"Why don't you meet us for dinner," read the text, "and then we'll go from there."

So I did. And it was wonderful.

Afterward, the whole group went to the bowling alley. I got to join them for a couple rounds of pool, but when the text message chain alerted me that the ex was on his way, I gathered my things and bid everyone adieu.

I'm glad I got to spend some quality time with my friend on her birthday. And while it was slightly awkward to be surrounded by a group of people who primarily consider themselves my ex's friends, it was comforting to know how happy they all were to see me.

Later on - less than an hour after I'd left - a text message came through, letting me know it was safe to come back out and wrap up the celebration at my friend's favorite dance club. Although my buzz had begun wearing off and I was getting pretty tired, and I was pretty pissed at my ex for the speed bump he'd put in my night, I obliged. And I'm glad I did, because we ended up having the time of our lives!

I guess change is an inevitable part of life. I'm thankful that I have true friends who will stick by me no matter what. I'm looking forward to celebrating many more birthdays to come with my friend, and I'm sure we'll get many chance to spend quality time together between now and next October.

Fun and games!

I've always been a bit of a pool shark.

I grew up in the country - in Greene County - Mosheim, for any of you that might know what that is. And my house was down the street from a local pool hall... The Pantry House.

Now, granted, this was no place for a young girl to hang out. People got drunk and did drugs there every night of the week. Luckily for me, I was used to that crowd so it didn't intimidate me much.

I started sneaking out with my boyfriend at the tender age of 14. He and his brothers began taking me to the Pantry House and I quickly learned how to aim, how to break and how to apply backspin. Shortly after, we started hustling people.

Now, I'm not saying I could have played on EPSN or anything. I mean, I was 14 for goodness sakes. But I saw those boys win quite a bit of cash and I know I had everything to do with it.

As the years went on, my mom began dating a man who had a pool table in his basement. I refined my skills down there, playing everybody that wanted a run at me. Then, my mom started taking me out to pool halls with her. She'd drink and I'd shoot pool.

Ah, those were the good old days.

Once I graduated high school and moved to Johnson City, I quit playing. It wasn't until I began working at Applebees that I became interested again.

We'd head up the hill every night after work to slam back a few cold ones and play a few rounds. It didn't take long for me to get my groove back, and soon I was schooling folks at Bailey's.

Since then, I have been the most competitive pool player I know. I don't claim to be the best, but I am damn sure the most competitive. I win my share of games - well, not so much lately, because I haven't been to a pool hall in quite a while. But i also lose my fair share of games. And I'm OK with that... but I swear, I get madder if someone lets me win than if I lose a well-played game.

You best believe that.

This summer, I've spent a little less time in pool halls and more time hanging out with old (and new) friends. I've gotten to see my Vonni more times than I can count... and the last time I did, she taught me how to play darts.



I've played before, but I was always shit-faced drunk and could barely see the target. I assumed, based on what I barely remember from those experiences, that I hated playing darts because I sucked at it.

What I learned a few weeks ago, however, is that darts can be really, really fun when played in the company of great friends (and under the influence of smaller amounts of alcohol).

Maybe it was beginner's luck, but I wasn't half bad! I mean, I hit the wall behind the machine a few times. And I rarely hit the point at which I was aiming. But I kept a competitive score (even if it was by accident) and there were TONS of times when Von said "GOOD DART!" (which is darts for "nice shot").

So now I love darts and I've been looking forward to this upcoming weekend when I'll go back to the Grill (or "the Hyperion" for you new Greeneville kids) and get to play again. I know this time, there will be actual people there to make fun of me when I screw up. And I'm sure that I won't make it through two games before I get embarrassed and quit... but I'm looking forward to having a good time with my girls and giving it a whirl.

Speaking of having a good time with my girls, last weekend my friend Becca (as in, used to work at JC Applebee's, moved to Washington, then Myrtle Beach, then CHATTANOOGA Becca) invited me to her and Bryan's house for a cookout.



Bryan (the vegan) cooked us amazing steaks, potatoes and corn on the cob. We drank about a six pack of beer each and then they introduced me to my NEW favoritest game in the world (yes, favoritest)..... DOMINOES!

Now, I've got quite a bit of experience playing dominoes, but only the ones you buy at Target Dollar Days that have cats, dogs, pigs, frogs and cows on them. And I quickly learned at Becca and Bryan's that those type of dominoes ain't got SHIT on the real kind.

It was kind of hard to catch on at first, probably because I was already five beers in when we started... but once my practice round was over, I was hooked.

We played three back to back games that night and I swear, if I hadn't realized it was 1:00 on a work night, I'd have played at least three more.

I had a great time with Becca and Bryan and I am so pumped to get together with them again soon... and eat, drink and play dominoes! (And listen to Becca sing Van Morrison's "Domino" totally off key... lol)

This summer has been chocked full of good times with great friends and I look forward to seeing what the fall has in store! I'm pumped to have two new games that I am completely infatuated with... and to to have great friends to play them with!

: )