This whole experience of moving has come with a seemingly endless well of firsts. And I’m talking in just the last three hours there has been a growing list. Like right now, it’s almost 1AM and I’m just now using the office in our “new” house specifically for writing. It’s intended purpose from the start. Feels pretty good. It might feel better if the sudden kick into the blogosphere wasn’t the result of “To Catch a Predator”-induced insomnia. Seriously, why …

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Me and My Mouse-Killing Hero on Memorial Day
I'm learning we'll do scary things if there's a trusted pair of arms waiting for us in the water.

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I know, I know. For a “writer,” I’m doing a pretty lousy job keeping up with this site. But you know how determined I am? I’m writing right now, right in the middle of my beloved Intervention, even though it’s clear that Richard the crack addict needs my full attention and support.
It’s been a busy few weeks. Clayton’s on-call schedule has felt a bit like being hazed for a fraternity. Except that instead of graduating to kegs and blondes, Clayton’s …

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My husband is breathing again. I’m pretty sure it had decreased significantly over the past month, and then for two days last week, stopped entirely.
Last Wednesday Clayton took the Physician Assistant Certification Exam, codename: PANCE. I have so many “party in Clayton’s PANCE” jokes handy, but I’ll spare you those. For now. So, last Tuesday was full of chest pains and heart palpitations and sweaty palms for both of us. Here is what Clayton’s schedule has looked like since we …

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Normally this is the kind of entry that I would think about doing and never actually sit down and create. But with Clayton’s certification exam getting nauseatingly close and our move-in with my parents complete, I’ve found myself with quite a bit of free time on my hands. So, please enjoy a little snippet of those things that made up my 2009.

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Clayton and I …

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Ok. Let’s do this.
Knowing that I eventually had to sit down and write coherently and descriptively about what has been happening in the last few weeks has made me very sensitive to my reactions and feelings about it all. I have been trying to honestly pinpoint what is going on inside my heart and head underneath all the swirling babbling words. What I keep coming back to is, “This was almost too easy.”
In the last month, Clayton has had three consecutive interviews at practices in Rome, Georgia; Newport …

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You’re looking at a very happy girl. It’s a bit sad how my mood can completely rely on where I end up getting my coffee in the morning. This morning it completely worked out in my favor, though, so whatev.
My sister-in-law Kathleen told me about Dancing Goats coffe bar in Decatur, Georgia, and I took her up on the suggestion. Do I need to back up? I’m getting ahead of myself. And if you’re wondering why I’m talking like a spastic psycho, it’s not the large …

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A few weeks ago I had one of the worst days of my young life. I know that’s uselessly relative and cryptic, but that’s not what this is really about. In the middle of the worst part of the awfulness, these words were said: “Life is ugly.” Even sitting there in the midst of pain and tears and lowest lows, I didn’t want to believe that. I’ve always tried to cling to the comforting notion that Life is beautiful — at the core, there is beauty and happy …

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I certainly don’t want to judge anyone. Or make generalizations about discount pizza buffets. However, I may have finally reached the point in my life (and this could only have happened after college) where I can say a final goodbye to a certain discount pizza buffet chain.
I don’t remember a time when I was blown away by the service or food quality or cleanliness, but I do remember that at 18 years old, I could tolerate it…even ignore it most …

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Do you play golf? Ok, good. If you’re somewhat toying with the idea of possibly considering heading out to your neighborhood course, DON’T. As a former award-winning athlete (defensive MVP of the travel softball “World Series” when I was 10, thank you very much), I am basically an authority on what activities can be considered legitimate sports and which ones are deviously large scale practical jokes. Golf is not a sport. Golf is the total unraveling of my Christian nature. …

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