Scattered Memories

Gosh, here I have went and let my blog go again. I have got to start doing a better job of keeping it updated! I guess I will have to go back to August and my birthday parties! It all began with a visit from Amanda and Heather!

That evening Katy and Chuck joined us and we began with some wine on the front porch. We then proceeded to dinner at Mad Donna's where Andrew joined us. Of course, the food was yummy! We then took the party to The Red Door, and then downtown to Cadillac Ranch. While here I ran into Whitney, Kip, Kristen, Steven, and Michael (who was in on leave from Afghanistan). I was so happy to see him, I respect and miss my cousin like crazy! Ended up at Wild Horse Saloon which was fun! I was called out to line dance in front everyone (a tad funny). The party did not end there, for the following day I served brunch for my friends. Dusty arrived, Katy was here, Crystal, Amanda, Heather, and Chuck all ate. We had casseroles, gazpacho, and mimosas. Amanda and Heather had to leave :( but the rest of us continued the fun. Picnic lunch at the Parthenon and that was great! That night was dinner at Fiesta Mexicana where Anne, Bo, Lora, and Katy joined us! After leaving there we decided to try The Big Bang (piano bar), but it was way to crowded, so we moved to Tribe and then Play. It was a very awesome Bday!!! Thanks to everyone who made it special!

It is not easy to remember all the fun stuff I have done, but I have spent lots of time with Anne and Bo. They have became friends, that now I can not imagine life without. Thanks to you both for being so great! I also had the chance to attend Shakespeare in the Park! Chris and Lisa invited Chuck and I and it was so worth it! I had a superb time. I also attended a night with a Doors cover band with Anne, Bo and Lora which was fun! I really don't want to leave anything out but I am drawing a blank right now! I will do better in the following months!

Work is kicking my butt, six days a week! I must say though, I am still liking it. I am really excited about Artrageous coming up and can not wait to see who I can meet there. So stay tuned for the adventures that are to come!

New Job and Great Friends

Craziness has sure circled my life in the last few weeks, some good... some not so good. I have a very dear friend here, who got royally screwed in a business deal. So I have tried to comfort her through all of that. She is doing much better now, and I know is going to come out on top because she is just awesome like that. I have spent several great nights hanging with her as of late.

Last weekend, was a special weekend for me. I received a call that I had been offered a full time job at Gaylord Opryland and it was also a kinda milestone date for me. So, Chuck and I had dinner at Lime. Which is a really upscale Latin restaurant downtown. I had a taco sampler, where that fish taco was AMAZING. After leaving there, we headed to Past Perfect to have some drinks. This small lil joint is like a secret gem, tucked away that few know about. My girls, Anne and Katy met us there after their fun time at a concert at the Ryman. We were all entertained and slightly annoyed by the VERY drunk girls who decided that our table was their table.

The week, was my first big week at the job. I am telling you, I have never been to an orientation that was so much fun. They do an amazing job of making you feel welcome and special. They take you on a tour of all the Gaylord properties...which include, the hotel\convention center, The Grand Ole Opry, The General Jackson Showboat, Wildhorse Saloon, and The Ryman. It was a great experience. But the last day of orientation, they asked if I could train on day shift. I said sure....not knowing what that meant. Well, it means I get up and be at work at 5:15am. That in itself could be a downfall of the job, but you know I like it so much this far in that it does not really matter. My department is the workhorse of the hotel, but heck it is teaching me so much about the business I am wanting to be in.

This weekend, I got an unexpected call from my friend Gina, who said she was on her way to Nashville. This was such exciting news. She made it here and had a lil time to chat before she headed to the Green Day show at the Sommet Center (which she says was the best show ever). Also on Friday night, I had planned a visit to The Frist Center, but my friend Katy who had a bad week came over for a cocktail. This turned into a party of 6 chillin with drinks in the backyard. Katy, Andrew, Bo, Anne, Chuck and I had so much fun! Saturday, Gina, Chuck and I got up and went to breakfast. I took her to "The Greasy Spatula" which is really The Nashville Biscuit House. LOL. But I don't like that name so I gave it the other. LOL. After that we went on a Thrift Store Mission to find furniture. We had a great time but no purchases. We stopped and had lunch at La Hacienda which was yummy!! Then sadly, Gina had to leave!!!! It was so great to see her though. It had been too long since we had made fun of people and were nearly murdered for it or since we had made a random last minute trip! We have had some wild times over the years! I hope she makes time for more things like this!

Today, looks like a day to get some stuff done around the house. But I am having trouble getting motivated to begin. I have another week of this getting up at 3:45am nonsense and then I switch shifts. So I can not wait for that! My shift will be 11am-7pm, I am thinking that will be a great shift but who knows. I hope you all have a great week and hope to see or hear from you soon!!!

Another great weekend

I had a not so great week, with my feelings being hurt, getting a tad homesick, and having to decide to move on with things. So, my weekend was much needed. My friend Chad was coming into town to visit, and I was excited to see him. Not to mention Candice and Chad A. were coming too. Chad got here really late on Friday, and we ended up sitting up talking until like 430am.



Saturday, I had to work a wedding. So Chad went shopping. My wedding was out a Belle Meade Plantation. That is such a beautiful location for an event. I really hope to use it more often. The arrangements were extravagant and the decor was vast. I am so happy and excited about the way it turned out. Jennifer and her ideas are great. The folks at A Village of Florist also were remarkable and worked their tails off. I just know the Bride will be very happy with how her special day turned out.

Saturday night, I went to dinner at Jackson's in Hillsboro Village. After a long wait we finally got our table. The drinks were flowing and we were having a good time. Diana, Candice, Chad, Casey, Chad, Megan, and more were there. And to my suprise my friend Justin showed up in town. He had been at a wedding and decided to stop in for a visit. So we ate dinner and then went our seperate ways. Chad, Justin and I hit Tribe and were having a good time when I suddenly spotted the best looking human on the planet. We ended up moving to Play, and there I spotted the guy again... and I decided to befriend him. YAY! Also there was Ty Herndon, the country singer...who is also a very nice guy.

Sunday we went to lunch at Casa Fiesta in Antioch. Chad had assured me it was as good as my Casa in Richmond...well it was good but it was no Casa. I do miss eating my Casa!!!!! Then they sadly had to leave and head home.

My bad week ended with a good weekend. Now my mood is still not perfect...and still have lots to sort out in my head. Yet, I do feel like I am getting there. It is just hard to let things go sometimes, even if you know it is for the best. I just like....well not getting into that on here. My internships are going well, still making some great connections, and learning to love Nashville. So I really can't complain. Take Care Friends and Family!!!

Art and Wine

Yesterday I was invited to attend Art at the Arcade and a Wine Tasting. So, Chuck and I headed downtown to hit the arcade. Which is actually a really cool place. I for one was unaware of the historical relevance of such a place. In the 1800s an Arcade was an alley of stores that had been inclosed by a roof. This was their version of a mall. Nashville being just one of 5 or 6 cities to still have theirs standing and in use, makes it very unique. (thanks Chuck and Chris for the history lesson) We met up with Chris, Lisa, and Katy there. In all I think we visited 8 galleries. All of which served wine and small snacks. I was impressed with some of the art and some was not my style. But I think that my new found love of graffiti art, shocked me the most. Who would have ever thought not painting on the side of a building and put it on canvas?!?! But truly it was great! I also still love photography, some of the stills were just so moving. And of course the artist have been hard at work on their Michael Jackson work, several different styles.

We had to rush on out to Bell Meade for our wine tasting. It was a new concept I had never heard of. It was called Taste Live, and you signed up on their website www.tastelive.com. Then you were able to send tweets via their website and see that of all the others from around the country who were doing the tasting at the same time. The idea was great and the wine was even better. Chris and Lisa hosted and had some antipasta and such for us, and we ordered pizza. The evening was great. The wines of the night were from St Supery Vineyards in Napa. The selections were Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Élu & Virtú. All of which were good, but my favorite was the Cabernet Sauvignon. After finishing off the wine it was time to head back home.

I must say, I love living in a city that appreciates the arts and such. I think the arts is still struggling to make a name here in Nashville, but they are working hard and doing a great job. I am gonna do everything I can to help them! Thanks to Chris and Lisa for hosting us. Thanks also to Chuck and Katy for being so much fun! Can't wait to do it again!

Nashville Life

I started this blog back in the spring and well as you can tell I have let it go. But I am back and hope that I can do a much better job of keeping you all updated on the life of me! I have completely abandoned myspace, so there will no longer be any blog posts there! Of course I can still be found on facebook and on twitter with the name @dargavell. So since I know you are just falling over yourself to keep up with me follow me on those as well.

So at the beginning of June, I made yet another move. This time landing myself in Nashville, TN. This decision came after Chicago did not work out and staying in central Kentucky was just not an option. My career goals had changed and thus I needed to make that happen. So, I received an internship and packed my bags. I am trying to make it in the world of event planning. This is not an easy task, but I have managed to already do some great networking and have met some great folks who are willing to help! I must say I think this move has proved beneficial.

At least I did not move completely blindly, I knew my roommates. One is Chuck, an Internet entrepreneur...AKA GEEK and then there is Ripley, the 99lb Yellow Lab\Great Pyrenees. We live on the east side of the city, in a very hip cool area. But I must say, the neighborhood is a tad sketchy. I get a lil nervous sometimes, but hey I do have this monster dog to protect me. ;) Since moving here I have tried to explore the city, but yet stay close to home. I love going for walks in Shelby Bottoms, it is a lovely park! I also was lucky enough to have free time the week of the CMA fest and got to meet Kellie Pickler, Dierks Bentley and more. I have learned to love the local restaurants and bars. Picking a favorite is not easy, but I think Mad Donna's is pretty great. Made some great new friends, who have been very nice! Went to a Pig Roast that was amazing!!!! About had a heat stroke at Pride. And anxiously awaiting the next adventure. I will have so much more to say from this point on...I will try and post frequently! Hope you all decide to stay tuned!

Love Ya
Jase

Text Messaging your Friends

Today, I am gonna focus on text messaging and the proper etiquette for it. Now, not to say that I am the expert at it. But I must say that in general my etiquette is of a higher standard than most.

I would like to begin with responding to text in a timely manner. I fully understand that some texts get lost out there somewhere, I also understand you may get them hours after they are sent. People, this does not mean you have a standing excuse not to respond to a person's text. Many of you lead very busy lives. So getting back to text messages may take you some time, but get back with people. I find all to often, instead of telling someone you don't wanna do something ...the text and/or invite is ignored. That is rude and should be avoided at all costs.

Next, always CHECK CHECK your spelling. If you are unaware of the proper way to use predict-a-text...TURN IT OFF!!! Now a jumble letter here and there is understandable. But when your message was meant to say "Lets have dinner" and it says "London is dead" Well there is no way I will make dinner. So just take the extra second to review before hitting send.

Never ever send bad news via text. It just removes the personal feelings that are going to be involved, and makes the receiver feel like they are not deserving of your time. Grow some and do it in person! That is just showing respect to your fellow human beings.

I am very guilty of the next thing but I have been made aware it is rude and many do not like it. But to abbreviate with BRB for Be Right Back, is not well received. This one will take some time for me to understand, because I would guess most of the masses totally understand what is meant. But I will too try and adapt to this.

OK lastly, how do you end a text. When is the final text sent. I mean it can go on and on. Always responding to the last text as not to be rude. Well I think a good stopping place is to say you are done. For instance..."Great have a great day, Later" or something along those lines. If someone sends you something deserving of a response, respond! If someone sends you a message that says "I miss ya" well then odds are they are looking for you to say "I miss you too".

I just think that we should all take a little more time to show some respect within the ever growing World of Texting. I am not perfect and never claim to be! Oh and I almost forgot, if you forward texts take note! Spread the wealth, one person does not wanna be the "lucky" one to receive EVERY SINGLE ONE! Thanks and have a great day.

Over Usage of Iphones

The Apple Iphone has taken the World by storm. Everyone seems to have one, and if they don't have one it seems it is on their wish list. With now over 3 million Iphones being activated to date, it seems this phenomenon won't end anytime soon. Now, don't get me wrong I am all for technology and things that make life seem a tad more convenient. Yet, I find that people have become obsessed with this mobile device. I am very aware of the features these phones have. Using them makes the day to day life of it's owners go more smoothly. But seriously people have went overboard.
Upon getting a friends request on Facebook one day, I quickly realized it was not a person...but a friend had made an account for his Iphone. Another friend will not allow anyone to touch his precious phone, not even to look at it. Still another I know, walks around with it in his hand at all times so as not to miss anything. And only Iphone owners make it a point of showing you at least one thing on their phone each and every time you are in their presence. The biggie though that really pushes my buttons, is when before answering any question they must check their Iphone. For example:
person:"I wonder what the weather is gonna be like."
Iphone user: "hang on" user begins to check the weather on his\her phone before responding

For example:
person: "Have you heard that song by Madonna?"
Iphone user: "hang on" checks iphone "you mean this one" plays the song on iphone

I am assuming before 2009 is out this will be the scenario with Iphone users:
For example:
person: "what's your name?"
Iphone user: checks iphone "My name is Dan."

I think my plan is to just stick with my old "dumb" phone and enjoy my text messages the same way I always have. While still watching as everyone begins to legally adopt their Iphones.