40 days and 40 nights

 

 

 

 

Happy First Day of …. LINT!!

 

No not really that kind of lint, but today kicks of 40 looong days and 40 looong nights of Lent. I usually crumple by day oh I don’t know 15 and end up having a little too many cocktails and doing whatever it is I promised I would not do. I promised this year that I would turn over a new leaf and try really try to not break my promise. I pondered long and hard about what it is I could give up.

I thought about giving up wine. However that would really interfere with my Monday Bachelor dates with Lauren and Missy and Mehegan, as well as any night at home with Deb. I then thought about giving up pizza, but once again that would massively interfere with Bachelor Mondays,  and not to mention my grocery budget on my state government salary. [For real it is a pretty good bang for your buck as a single lady]. I thought about giving up saying cuss words. Then I thought in my profession that it would likely be physically impossible due to frustrations with the bad breath from certain members of the public and the occasional defense attorney. I considered giving up shopping, but I am pretty much not doing much of that lately again due to my government budget so that is not really a challenge.

I thought long and hard about something that I always have on hand. I thought about something that I request at every restaurant no matter what I am eating just because anything smothered in it makes something taste so much better. I came up with …

I realize that at this moment, you 7 readers are like WTF? But I really think this will be a challenge for me. That means on Bachelor Mondays, I will no longer be pulling my Hidden Valley out and passing it around the table. This means that on our weekly Thursday night happy hours, I will not be dipping my cheese fries in this succulent sweetness. This means that any trip to Bonjangles, Chick Fila, [insert any other chicken establishment], I will be eating it dry.

 

What are you people giving up for lint Lent?

This is genius..

 

Why did I not think of this prior to digging up debt in the form of six figures? I am not sure if I can relate to being the one picked up or doing the picking up myself, but everything about this video brings back golden and rotten memories of college. However I often like to refer to this activity not as one walk of shame, rather as it is more of a stride of pride. enjoy.

 

Recap

 

So I have taken a severe leave of absence from the world of blogging. It probably has to do with the fact that when I get home from dealing with the fine citizens of Wake County all day, I have little energy to do anything but sit on my couch and watch DVR’d episodes of Forensic Files. Jk. But not really.

 

So here is a quick update for 2012. So far.

 

1. We celebrated a birthday.

Happy Birthday to Lauren Miller.

And duh no Birthday is complete without a Pauly D birthday cake.

This cake is courtesy of Mehegan Easley.  If you are looking for a blowout [and yes I mean this fellow’s hair do] at your next birthday, I’ll put you in touch.

And duh no birthday is complete without a ride from Igotcha Gary and his party bus of magic.

As always, Gary provided me with yet another night for the record books of fun in Raleigh.

2. We stocked a bar.

I am so excited for the Royal Wedding between my little Kitten and JT3.

And of course no stock the bar is complete without someone getting iced. JT3 is such a good sport.

  

3. We celebrated another Birthday.

Happy Birthday Courtney!

 

And duh no birthday is complete without the Jena shimmy.

RIP Salty Nut

 

 

Salty Nut damaged in fire

 

I was deeply saddened when I awoke to read this headline on The State's website and on my newsfeed.  For my non Cola readers, this little gem played a huge role in my college career. From spending multiple hours on the deck drinking pitchers of beer, consuming multiple baskets of Cajun chicken bites to cure what I believed were un-curable hangovers, finding peanut shells at the bottom of my purse days later, to retiring my fake i.d. there. I have few memories from college that do not involve this little paradise.  I am betting a disgruntled ClemPson fan was behind this fiasco. I can only hope that this little cottage of fun is insured and rebuilt.

photo via www.thestate.com

As time goes by

 

For the first time in my life I am getting scared of getting older. I think about things like wrinkles, how the tanning bed might actually be bad for me, the fact that I get sort of offended now when I am not carded to buy alcohol, or that my big girl paycheck is going to big girl bills [aka my student loans].

I really felt old this year when I received not a fun new purse or set of gorgeous boots from Santa my parents. Instead this year I received four of these.

 

 

Don’t get me wrong they are beautiful. And thanks to Deb they have been recovered with this awesome fabric. I just felt pretty old when asked what I wanted for Christmas and I said 4 Stools to go with my new dining table.

In addition to this adult gift I received, there were also control top panty hose in my stocking.  Deb said they prevent varicose veins. I mean it really scares me that age 26 I am supposed to be thinking about varicose veins.

Regardless of how old I am or how old I think I am, I know I am going to party like a 21 year old on Saturday for NYE.

Can you taste the Moonshine

 

I rubbed my eyes twice when I saw this recent headline on the N&O’s website

Mebane man charged with making moonshine

 

As someone who sees, hears, tastes, acts, etc. laws all day long, I am not sure I can agree with the illegality of Moonshine. After a recent fall trip to Columbia in October for a football game, I was exposed to Moonshine. One of my favorite married couples was given a mason jar of moonshine at a Stock the Bar Party, and I would like to thank whomever gave them such a wonderful gift. I drank my fair share and proceeded to have the best dance party of my life. Of course a Colt 45 was also passed around [which I am sure added to my stellar dance moves], but I am crediting the Moonshine as the motivating factor in my break dancing.

Holiday Hysteria

 

When I heard that police were called out to Charlotte area malls in order to maintain crowd control, I thought for sure it was going to be over some toy or video game, or a Harry Potter book. Then I read on to find out it was all because of this ….

You may be wondering what these shoes are, but from someone whose first job was working at the Finish Line [no I did not wear the referee uniform], these are apparently the Air Jordans of all Air Jordans. I am pretty sure my 6th grade boyfriend wore these when we would be dropped off at the movies and hold hands during the movie. It was a big deal then. Regardless, people were camped out like a bunch of Occupy Protesters in order to get their hands on these. This got me thinking about what I would stand outside in the cold for.

I came up with the following.

1. Student Loan forgiveness

Yep that was about it. I mean sure I would stand in line for a free TV or a chance to meet some famous person. However I just don’t think I would stand in line for a pair of shoes, especially if I had to pay for them. With all the hysteria over this pair of plastic, fake patent leather, rubber things, it sure does not seem to be a sign of a downward economy.

 

Images via www.charlotteobserver.com

Go Gamecocks

 

People who wear these atrocious things should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest.

Giving Thanks

 

In the tradition of today, I am quite thankful for many things today. Most of all I am thankful for getting to spend Thanksgiving day with my family for the first time in 3 years. I am also thankful to Lord above for getting my through the last 3 years and placing me where I am today.

Yes Law School is finally over and I am finally able to sit down at the table and eat with my family. I am so thankful to not be sitting at the table in front of my laptop with an Examples and Explanation book open, next to an outline with various colors of highlighting, and ink stains all over my hands from making flash cards. I am very thankful that this year I will be eating multiple casseroles until I am nauseous and not having to return to the library on the day after thanksgiving at 7am.

I am equally thankful that my family and friends have not disowned me after my 3 years of pure “acting like a grinch” when it comes to anything holiday spirited. After 3 years, a part of me lit up just a tad when I heard Feliz Navidad on the radio this week.  In addition I am thankful for family and friends still claiming me after my inability for 3 years to return text messages, phone calls and emails, or for my rude “what the heck do you want” look after a 12 hour day of studying.

I am thankful for my special someone for also still claiming me after my many meltdowns about exams, the bar, finding a job, etc. I am also still thankful to him for bringing me lots of Which Wich sandwiches and Popeye’s Famous Louisiana chicken nuggets [hey don’t knock it until you try it], and many Paula Dean like leftovers from his parent’s weekly Sunday night dinners.

I am thankful this year to have my dream job. Sure there are some days that the first person from the public that I encounter has failed to brush their teeth, however I would not change my job for the world. I am thankful I have mastered the “I am covering my nose with my hand because you have Chuck Norris Breath because it is so kicking” maneuver.

I am thankful that my job has allowed me to have my very own apartment. Aside from my creepy neighbor who knows everything about everyone living in my little unit, and the fact that it would not surprise me that he probably goes through my trash [don’t worry I have made it quite known that I work at the District Attorney’s office and am quite familiar with law enforcement, and yes I have ran my own background check on him], I am happy that everything about my little place is mine.

I am thankful that Fall TV has been really great this year [see previous post about Revenge]. I am thankful that Edward and Bella are finally getting married on the big screen. I am thankful that Rapid Fitness is finally  in the process of building their downtown location. I am thankful that Papa Murphey’s Pizza has opened up at the Shops at Oberlin [try it, it is dank].

My Current Obsession

 

 

When I first saw previews for Revenge over the summer,  I really thought it was going to be just one more show that heads south after 3 episodes. To my pessimistic surprise, this show is quite something that makes my hump day a little better. Clearly I have an eye for tall, dark and handsome dudes [hence my own very special dude]. I swear if they end up killing him off for real, I might actually boycott ABC.

Sometimes you are just S%$T out of luck

 

I ran across an article this morning on The Charlotte Observer's website that I had to read twice because it was so entertaining and yet so unbelievable.

Police: Man runs out of toilet paper, trashes hotel rooms

 

Was this for real?? I mean I agree, to find yourself in a rather uncomfortable and perhaps sticky situation without the proper paper goods, might send you into a downward spiral of frustration.

I am a little jealous that Mr. IBS himself will not be appearing at the Wake County Courthouse for a first appearance on this charge. I can only imagine asking hotel staff on the stand why this man went into a fit of rage and requesting anger management classes as a condition of his probation.

The Sweet Smell of Freedom

 

I made my way west to Fort Mill/Charlotte last night for the weekend. Having been a working woman now since September I have been looking forward to this day off for quite sometime. I took it as a sign that I was getting old when I awoke naturally at 7:30 and my parents were still asleep. Given they both work from home and have the luxury of not having to put on panty hose and battle traffic in the morning [and likely use the F-word at least 4 times before they enter the parking garage]. Is this what it is going to be like for the next 40 years before I retire??

Speaking of battling traffic I am super pumped that Deb wants to head to IKEA today and help me buy lots of nice things for all this extra acquired space I have in my new little humble abode. I think Deb may be more pumped about it than I am, and my poor step dad Paul grinds his teeth every time he hears IKEA, because he knows it is like any trip to Target, you go in for one thing and come out with much, much, more.

I am also excited about meandering the long aisles of IKEA because Deb is going to make me leave with an extra 5lbs if she keeps feeding me these….

 

Its like a can a Pringles, once you pop, the fun just does not stop.

 

Although I am frustrated about the fact I could not sleep past the first hour  of the Today Show [Matt Lauer was in Barbados today people], I am very thankful for what this day stands for.

 

Happy Veterans Day and a special thanks to all who have, do and will serve the USA!

 

I better run as I can smell my hips getting bigger, and by that I mean my orange sweet rolls are ready….

Occupied

 

As a Liberal Lisa over here, I am in full support of people speaking out against things they do not believe in/think are fair/[insert other cause here].

Recently the news has been flooded of these “Occupy” People, and frankly I just think there are more important things going on in the World. In the interest of full disclosure, I am sort of ignorant to what the heck they are “occupying” for. I know it has something to do with Corporate Greed [whatever that might exactly be, who knows?] and something to do with jobs. Well call me a Pessimistic Polly, but has anyone actually seen what these “occupiers” look like, it is no wonder that they might not have a job since most look like they have not bathed since the George W. Bush Administration. 

After a brief scan around news outlets on the world wide web, here are some beauties that I have come across.

 

 

I think if some people could just bath, cut their dreads off, stop rocking jackets with Tupac’s face on the back, lay off the Mary Jane, and watch the profanity, they might find it goes a long way…. Until then I sure hope someone figures out what Corporate Greed actually is so we can have something, ANYTHING else to talk about around the Watercooler.

Yo, Can I get a motion?

 

Unless you have ever interned/worked/gone to the courthouse and sat in district court in Wake County, you probably will not get the title.

It has been a month since my last blog post. I apologize again for the blog-cation, but it is really hard being a working woman and then coming home to tell all you 7 readers about it. Anyways in the last month……

 

1. I began my little dream job

 

[Lady Justice for all my non-legal readers]

Sure I have spent the last 5 weeks down in Traffic Court, dealing with teenagers with bad attitudes who are caught speeding or texting while driving. Or the suburbia housewife, who “cannot believe she got this ticket for running this stop sign, b/c OMG this is my first ticket ever, and she is just not that type of person who gets tickets” when she got a ticket for running a stop sign on her way to spend her afternoon aimlessly in Cameron Village. I have also encountered the peeps who brought their own extra-curriculars to the Widespread Panic/Phish/[insert other hippie wannabe concert with drugs present].  I think my favorite encounter was with a Transvestite who had a mass of tickets from 1998, and had just been released from Federal Prison, and was trying to get his life together by clearing up all of these old speeding tickets. I did my good deed and dismissed his/her tickets, because in all consideration his/her appearance was not an overnight change, and that must have been a rough 8 years in an all-male correctional facility.

No matter who I encounter from the public, I absolutely love my job, and could not be MORE thankful.

 

2. I contracted a sinus infection/bronchitis from such dream job.

I was told by my fellow colleagues that I should expect to get sick within the first few weeks of working there. And sure enough during the beginning of week 4, the sneezing, coughing and fever began. By day 4 of week 4, I could barely speak, and let me tell you that in a job where you are forced to speak all day to the members of the public or to annoying & non-annoying defense attorneys, I was not the Mary Sunshine I am normally am. I got some pleasure out of purposely coughing or sneezing on people who did in fact annoy me. Needless to say the Z-Pak saved the day.

 

3. Jeff Miles & Kathryn tied the Knot!

How sweet are they? and How pretty was she?? These two and their awesome families put on what I think makes a great wedding. Good Music, Good Food, Good Drinks and Good times. It was nice to have a mini-reunion with all of my favorite people from school to celebrate these two people and their beautiful babies to come.

 

4. I moved into my first place all by myself.

 

I was at first nervous about living by myself. I’ll admit the first night I stayed there, I was convincing myself that every little creak/noise was some mass murderer breaking into my house and that I was going to have to beat him/her off with one of my golf clubs. I prevailed through and by the third night I was sleeping like a little baby. I absolutely love living by myself. I got lucky and am able to rent from a lady who has been trying to sell her townhouse near Cameron Village. She is charging me close to nothing [well for the location and size], but with that comes some sort of catch. With my little humble abode being for sale, that means it has to be shown. Yes it has been annoying, and yes it has come at some inopportune times i.e. when I come home from work and just want to watch DVR, or last Sunday afternoon when I wanted to nap off my lingering hang-over with a few episodes of Dateline. However with my cheap rent/expenses, an hour and here and there seems like an ok trade-off for being in a month to month lease that I am able to get out off if I really want to.

 

Ok I better run and enjoy this delicious breakfast casserole that Deb [my beautiful mom] has prepared for me during my visit to the beach. This casserole is kind of a big deal, as this usually only happens on Christmas morning.

A day in life of being employed

 

No you are reading this correctly. I am no longer a SAHUP [ Stay at Home Unemployed Person]. Yes that is correct, I have entered the first of week of work of the next 30 years of my life.

I received the call last Wednesday and was offered a job. This was not just any job, and it was not in just any city. I was offered my dream job and in my dream city.

As of this Monday, I am now just like this guy

 

 

Ok well sort of. As of Monday I started my little legal career at the Wake County Courthouse. While I wont really be like Jack McCoy just yet, I will be as aggressive about some speeding tickets.

 

I can say that I am pretty sad to leaving my parents, and becoming acquainted again with eating Lean Cuisines, but I am just so happy that I am going to be back in the fine capital city of Raleigh.

 

Stay Tuned for more on my adventures in finding a place to live [and yes it has been an adventure].

A day in the life of a SAHUP

 

SAHUP = Stay at home unemployed person

Due to still being unemployed, I am beginning to discover what the life of a house wife must be like. And frankly I am getting bored. Now I say that with a disclaimer, because I do think housewives and stay at home moms are a real job and I personally commend those who choose to. You are brave and respectable  women!

I am just saying after spending the past 4 weeks at home [with my parents], I am not sure this is the life for me. In addition I am not sure the College Foundation  of North Carolina would find that this is the life for me, seeing as I owe them well over six figures.

I have been trying to be creative with the errands I can run for my parents.

You know going on multiple trips to all of these places

 

 

I am also finding that I can only organize my closet so many times of the week. Or that I can only do so much laundry or clean my bathroom so many times before the fumes from the bathroom cleaner give me a headache.

 

However  a somewhat perk to being a Stay at home unemployed person occurred yesterday. I got dragged to IKEA [ if you don’t know, now you know check it out here] with Deb yesterday. Now Deb and I are Ikea veterans, in that we have been multiple times before, know when to and NOT to go, and how to prepare for the trip. Yes you need to prepare your shopping list before you go if not you will be miserable. Well yesterday proved no different, and it was a workout in itself as we meandered the maze of their show rooms and onto into the marketplace.

I ended up buying this bookcase yesterday, and can you believe it, I put the little piece of crap thing together all by myself!

 

 

OF course it did not come with out a splinter, a hammered finger, and more than a few four letter words. I am not so savvy with the tools, or anything handy for that matter. Needless to say this was quite an accomplishment.

Kitty & JT3 sitting in the Tree..

 

 

OK not really. However I was so glad to have so many reasons to celebrate this weekend, including these two love birds. Aren’t they going to make beautiful babies??

In addition to these good looking people, I was lucky to see all of these good looking people.

 

 

And no we did not think it was third round of ADP Rush and all decided to wear coral.

 

I am so excited to be a part of all of your upcoming wedding events! Keep up with Kat’s wedding plans at her blog over at Table for Two

I PASSED!!

 

Yes I got word on Saturday  [my birthday] that I did in fact pass the BAR!!! As sad as I was about turning 26, it was a birthday that I will never forget.

As fast as the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners grades the actual exams, they sure take their sweet time mailing them out. It has been a waiting game waiting for my mailman every day. Also not to mention that my poor parents have been pacing our driveway on the mailman too.

It was however, quite the magical moment when I found out. I was surrounded by my special someone, two of my best friends from college and their significant others and some other randos at the pool. When I received the official word I screamed for all to hear “ I PASSED!!” I then proceeded to run and do a cannonball into the pool and received a round of applause from all who were at the pool, including the randos.

TO all of my less than 10 readers, thank you for all of your love and support and all that jazz, because without it, I know I would not have been able to do it.

 

 

 

Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?

OK so it is more like Where in the World is Casey Denise? Starting tomorrow I will be on a 9 day road trip across the Carolinas with one special guy. I will be taking a blogcation and an actual real vacation. After those 12 grueling weeks in my 12x10 jail cell study room preparing for the bar exam, and the 3 weeks I have spent back at my parents aimlessly looking for a job, I am finally getting to see the sun. There were so so many days I would look out the window while reviewing [insert some terribly boring legal subject here] and long to be taking in those UV rays.

No this is not a joke—this is the route we are taking. We are going from Raleigh ---> Oak Island ---> to Atlantic Beach ---> to Columbia ---> back to Raleigh.

I am so pumped to:

1.  no longer have to look like America’s Favorite Ghost

2. Beat such special guy in lots of games of [see below]  and spend time with his great family

             

3. and last but not least celebrate these two next weekend in Columbia with all of my favorite people.

Kat & John

Not to mention I received word last night [in which I did a happy dance around my room] that my personal favorite bar in Columbia had re-opened, Jakes. Apparently the owners were involved in a nasty divorce battle and with fingers crossed they have finished their equitable distribution claims. Its been too long since I had a basket of popcorn and enjoyed a famously hot evening on their deck.

With all this upcoming travel, I better get packing. See you readers in 9 days!

Disclaimer! I will likely be receiving my bar results in the next 9-15 days. Prayers for my sanity and well-being are very welcomed!

Update!! Cole goes to Kindergarten

So as I proudly reported yesterday my heart breaker of a nephew Cole made his debut in Kindergarten yesterday. Being the proud Aunt Casey I am, I went with my sister today to pick him up from school. Of course the car line was about 45 miles long 25 mins before school even let out, but nonetheless it was super cute watching him walk up from the "car rider line" with his little monogrammed bookbag and a huge smile on his face. I only had the luxury of being in the car rider line on special occasions in elementary school, which mostly included dentist appointments and other un-fun things, otherwise I was stuck riding the school bus, and except for on Fridays when we received candy, it was miserable.

Anyways after checking my email a moment ago,  I received an email from my sister that she had received from Cole's teacher today that was just too funny not to share.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan BOWERS <SBOWERS@rock-hill.k12.sc.us>
Date: Wed, Aug 17, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Subject: A new kind of bragging!
To: jodean8302@gmail.com


Cole is just precious.  We love his enthusiasm and we are so happy he is part of our class.

Today the children were outside and Cole started knocking on the window to come in to use the bathroom.  After a few seconds he was out again.  We have told the children when they go number one, just use hand sanitizer but if you go #2, be sure to wash.  When Cole comes out of the restroom with the toilet sound flushing in the background he proudly announced to me that he has to wash his hands b/c he went number 2 AND then said "AND I wiped my own butt!"  Now that is an accomplishment. 

I thought that was so funny.  One of those kindergarten things that parents can giggle about...along with the teacher.

:o)


Susan Bowers
Kindergarten Teacher
Old Pointe Elementary
Rock Hill Schools


How funny is that?? Not only is he a little stud, but apparently a comedian too.