Give Me a 'G', Give Me an 'O'...

GOOO Bobcats!  

Well, although I might be an energetic person, I have never, ever in my life been a cheerleader.  At the ripe, old age of 24, however, I am becoming one.  Actually my title is only "cheer sponsor" and I am splitting the job with another coach and only committing to two practices a week.  I not only feel it is my "civil duty" to the school, but I think it sounds like a little bit of fun.  Sure, I will complain some nights when I get home at 7 o'clock and Randy and Jack are lounging on the couch, but all in all, I think it will be good for me.  I feel a little bit as though I have 'sold my soul to the devil' because if you think about all the drama of middle school...and multiply it times a million... you have middle school cheerleaders.  It will make for good posts I'm sure, and probably enough drama to fill an issue of Star magazine.  More to come on this whole cheer business...

But for now, we must talk about TRIVIA.  Last night, some dental students and wives got together at Swanky's Taco Shop in Germantown for a night of trivia.  I had never really been a part of something like this, and boy was it packed.  We got to chow down on some Mexican food while playing which was a definite perk.  The boys decided on a name that I still do not know the meaning of, but it is supposedly a dental term...thus 'Furcation Invasion' became our team name.  Two of my favorite team names of the night were 'I Poked Your Mom on Facebook' and 'Fat Kids Win in Seesaw'.  

Let the games begin...

We started out doing really well...We went into half time at tenth place out of about 28 teams.  After halftime we found out a category would be art...(I had told the team that the only two areas I could contribute to were art and food, so I started feeling some pressure).  We wagered the full 9 points on the question about which famous artist made VanGogh cut off his left ear.  Well, I immediately wrote my answer and had the first name right but the last name WRONG!  I failed my teammates and my many years of art history.  Good thing I don't have to teach it in middle school.  Anyways, after several other questions like "Name 4 out of the 5 hosts of Family Feud" and such, it was time for the final question.  We wagered the full 20 points on our final answer, got it right, and the game came to an end.  Team Furcation Invasion did not win but did get FIFTH place!!  Out of 28!!  We decided that on weeks that the boys don't have a test we will be back to Swanky's and eventually win.  The prize?  $75 dollars to spend at the restaurant...which split 8 ways is less than $10 dollars a person.  But we do it for the sheer satisfaction of knowing random trivia.

Here are some pictures:

Back Pain & Back-to-School Pain

Well, Randy has been slaving away in the dental lab working on a set of dentures and it has taken a toll on the poor guy.  He has been having lots of problems with his back lately, which apparently is the number one reason for dentists to go into early retirement or stop practicing.  When Randy got his brother, Doctor Danny, on the phone, his prescription was for me to give him a 10-15 minute back massage DAILY!!  Great prescription, huh?  Luckily it's been getting a little better... probably due to my awesome massages.

I have been experiencing pains of my own....the pains of knowing it is almost time to go back to school!  Seeing the stupid "back to school" commercials on TV about what cute outfit your child will wear, etc. make it sound like such a fun thing....but I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer and not quite ready for it to end.  I start inservice tomorrow (it lasts a complete week... waaaay too long if you ask me) and then on August 10th will welcome my little students (actually, not little....some are twice my size).  It could be an interesting year, too.  The school is on my case to help sponsor cheerleading.  They think just because I'm young and under 150 lbs that I was a cheerleader...quite the contrary.  Anyways, it would have some perks: possible job security at the school I would like to be at full time, some extra money, and a free week of substitutes while I went to Florida for Nationals and Disney World with the team.  There is a lot to consider before I commit to it, and I would like to not have the responsibility while my time is spent at two schools...but, who knows?  

To end on a good note, while the Hartmans are experiencing pain, the Wileys are celebrating promotions!! Congrats to Matthew and Jodi BOTH who have gotten recognized for all their hard work and many, many hours they put into their jobs.  And watch out for some awesome new additions to Kirklands in the future since Jodi gets to start putting her good taste to work!

Just wanted to share...

The passage that I read today from my One Year Bible is from Romans and happens to be one of my favorites...thought it would be worth sharing!

(from Romans 12...July 29th excerpt)

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will...

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another and in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality."

Jack ATTACK

(Apology:  Randy, my editor, has informed me that my posts are getting rather lengthy.  I will try to limit the rambling in the future, but no promises!)

As of late, Jack has come to think of Randy and I as "one of his own" in terms of trying to play and wrestle with us.  He has always been crazy, but I am beginning to think we have created a monster!  It used to just be my legs that got the beating, but the pictures below show that he now feels no restraint in pawing our faces...yes, faces.

     SWEET (above) and SOUR (below)(Look closely at this one...his back legs are getting my face while his claws have my hair.)

Also, I just recently found (well, someone found for me) my camera that got lost back in April.  I thought I'd put up the long forgotten pictures of Easter Sunday and my friend Sarah Kate's bridesmaids' luncheon. Jack investigating his first Easter Package from his grandparents.

Hartman's 1st Annual Easter Egg Hunt (in our apartment)...Randy won!  Jack still finds eggs.

Jessi, me, Allie, and Anna Grace and the yummy luncheon.

Me and the Bride...who now lives in Australia.  (I made that dress!)

Weekend in Nashville

This past Monday, Randy had his first big test of his second year of dental school and didn't experience fresh air for three days.  What did that mean for me?

A trip to Nashville of course.  (Just to make some of you feel better, I don't just go off and desert my husband, he actually gets better studying in.  And I make sure he has plenty of food to eat, clean laundry, and of course, Jack, while I am gone.)

I left for Nashville on Thursday and went to PM with my sister that night. 

 Ahhh, good sushi, good talks, and good weather on Belmont Boulevard.  We had a great time sitting out on the patio and catching up...we shared these crab wontons that were to die for!!!

I got home that night and spent some time with my dad (mom was in Florida with her girlfriends) who was glad to have his "little buddy" home.  He showed me the progress on the master shower that he has been working on.  He has already tiled the floor himself...I don't know how or where he got so many handyman skills but I am quite envious of them.  On Friday morning my friend Anna Grace came over and we hiked in my parents neighborhood; the reason I say "hike" and not "walk" is because their neighborhood has more hills than all of Memphis.  

Friday night I went to Urban Flats with some of my bests..AG, Julianna, and Jessi.  And, I confess, we shopped a little at Urban Outfitters before....it was a very "urban" night all in all.  Dinner was fabulous (the menu is all flatbreads, which I love,love,love) and we saw about half of Lipscomb which was fun.  I love hearing the Nashville drama since the only drama I have in Memphis deals with middle schoolers and makes me feel pretty pathetic.  

Saturday was lake day.  I cannot go to Nashville in July and not go to the lake...it is just not possible.  My dad and I went along with Alex, my cousin on my dad's side who had never been wakeboarding before and tore it up.  Seriously, she got up on the second try and perfected it.  We took the Explorer which is not well suited for towing a speed boat...I have never smelled more burnt rubber in my life.  The boat, however, treated us very well and we had an amazing day, although it was the only cold day of the whole summer.

Sunday was an experience.  My dad and I drove to Cookeville to attend church at the nursing home with my Lulu.  She was so happy to see us and her and my dad talked loudly while everyone else was singing and confused.  The people that sang and spoke did a great job going on with normal "church" business while the phone was ringing, machines were beeping, and wheelchairs were getting closer and closer.  After the service, we sat with her while she ate lunch.  The table consisted of Lulu, my dad, me, a woman who was excused after throwing up on her bib, a daibetic woman who wouldn't eat anything but her dessert, and a jolly woman named Margie who made me laugh harder than anyone in a long time.  Despite how sad it is to see these people who have lived such wonderful, rich lives now living in a nursing home, there is some humor to be found in it all.  Margie critiqued the turkey and dressing meal for a solid 40 minutes, telling us exactly how she would have cooked it and why she wouldn't eat it.  She would talk even when everyone else was having separate conversations, going over recipes and such.  She argued with the nurse til she was blue in the face, finally giving in to eating by inhaling the strawberry shortcake and sweet tea.  The whole scene was just priceless, I wish it could be explained better in words.

That night I went to Ethos at the Cannery Ballroom, the church that Dave (the man that did our wedding) has started and which has quickly spread to hundreds of people.  I got to eat some of the famous SATCO queso before going home and hearing all about my mom's trip to Florida.  Monday I went on a hike with Michelle (my belle) at Radnor Lake, one of my most favorite places in Nashville.  Finished the day by eating salmon and salad with my parents on the deck.

The trip came to an inevitable end after meeting up with another friend, Katie, at Starbucks.  

Now that I caught up with all my friends and have spent all my money, it's time for the real world to sink in and start getting ready for my second year of teaching.

It's been good while it's lasted.

Happy Birthday to EWE!

A birthday post to a dear friend...

Rarely ever does someone come into your life in Kindergarten and stick around for 19 years. I am extremely lucky to say that some of my best friends to this day were right there with me learning our ABC's. Actually, some even date back to pre-K 3. Well, either Kelsey was too cool for me in pre-K 3 or I was too cool for her. Either way, we didn't become pals until Kindergarten, and a couple years later I remember staying up all night in her attic reading books so that we could win the Read-A-Thon that the school was hosting. We didn't win, but that's not the point.

Those of you that know me know that I have quite an imagination and a "creative" sense of humor. Kelsey is the only one I know that shares that humor with me. Kelsa and Lynsa have been friends now through it all...playing "elevator" with my car seats when I first got my license, getting lost on purpose, flying down "Speed Bump" Road, and other scary car stories. It's amazing we didn't get killed. Then there is Cross Country and Track. Never did two slackers enjoy running together as much as we did. We would do everything we could to get out of running some days...whether it was running to a friends house, drinking lemonade, then having them drive us back to the school's campus....or running out of sight and then playing on the playground til the allotted time was up. When I was at Lipscomb and she was at Belmont, we stepped on a plate and shouted "Mazel Tov!"the first night in her new house as roomates. She actually was the one to convince me of going on a formal with Randy which in turn led to our marriage...(okay, maybe that is a little of a stretch, but who knows what would have happened if I didn't go)

Anyways, I have been truly blessed to have grown up with so many of the friends I have today. With me now in Memphis and Kelsey jetsetting between Nashville, LA, and New York for her job, we don't have as many adventures but we do have just as strong of a friendship.

From the handwritten quote book she gave to me years ago...

"A friend is someone who knows all about you, and still likes you."

Happy Birthday, Kelsa!

The ONE YEAR Mark

I'm guessing that if you are reading this blog, then you were a part of the extremely hot wedding ceremony that took place one year from yesterday.  Well, believe it or not, Memphis is even hotter.  So it is only fitting that...

Randy and I have just celebrated one year of marriage!  (This time we were smart and made no outdoor plans.)

Since the trip to Mexico was the "big" celebration, we had a pretty low-key day.  We decided that Arby's had to be our anniversary meal since that is where we ate on our wedding night.  You see...after an absolutely gorgeous, hot day, it started pouring on us as we were driving down the interstate in the convertible.  As we got to the hotel, we realized we hadn't eaten anything but a bite of cake, had no "to go" boxes, and the GoTen restaurant at the bottom of the hotel was closed.  So what did we spend our time doing?  Walked to Arby's in the rain, begged the people to give us food even though they were about to close, listened to 'Walking in Memphis' playing in the restaurant, and then ate our combo meals while watching Sports Center.  Sounds pretty glamorous, huh?  Randy was elated last week when he saw the commercial that Arby's now has a $5 combo meal, and that he was getting off the hook and not having to dress up to take me to some fancy restaurant.  (By the way, I don't think the boy has worn a single tie all year, so it really would have been a hard thing for him to do.)  We went to Arby's after church, then came home and unwrapped the cake.  Oh....the cake....

Whoever wrapped up our cake--you know who you are!--left the live orchids in the cake, complete with the clear little water tubes and everything.  So when I unwrapped the cake, there was a not-so pleasant smell and coffee-bean-brown flowers on top.  I still ate some (not the top) and it surprisingly tasted good, but I couldn't convince Randy.  I can't really blame him because Mexico is still trying to live inside his stomach.  Anyways, I spent the next three hours making grapefruit and buttermilk cupcakes from scratch.  Randy loves grapefruit and I've always wanted to make the recipe, but it consists of cupcakes from scratch, grapefruit compote, a buttermilk frosting recipe, then topped with candied grapefruit (which I also made from scratch)!  In the end....WAY too much frosting!  But good.  We ate our cupcakes, drank sparkling grape juice out of my fancy glasses, and watched our wedding video (mostly in fast forward).  

Because the first anniversary gift is paper and Mexico was our big gift to ourselves, we went with only cards.  Of course, they were both homemade.  I wrote a poem...Randy made a puzzle for me to put together from clues on pieces of cut paper.  The message?  It had something to do with our "Hartman Family Motto" which is about as cheesy as it gets, but here it goes-- "Two Peas in a God Pod".

This year has been so crammed full of "firsts"--Memphis, dental school, teaching, being married, trying to get away from an argument in a one bedroom apartment, new compromises, new payments, taking in a "slumcat", cooking new recipes, making new friends, etc.  Everything has been so exciting and has felt like another marked milestone.  Because I was so consumed with wedding details, I didn't think too much about actually moving away from family and friends before the wedding.  But looking back on this past year, moving away is the best thing we could have done.  Now don't get me wrong, I have missed my family and friends more than anything...but together, Randy and I have shared everything and grown so much in our relationship.  I think there is something to be said for being by yourselves for a while, and it has been a huge growing opportunity.  Our marriage has strengthened through the good times and bad times of the past year, and our differences have become the means of helping one another.  We have also challenged our faith together and questioned what a marriage in Christ should look like.  With all that we have learned and experienced in this first year, it may sound strange...but I am kinda relieved that the first year is over.  I have always been one to do better in a familiar, comfortable setting.  I am content with a life that some would think is a complete bore, and I am really looking forward to a year with (hopefully) less surprises and more everyday memories.  Like I said, everything from this past year has felt like another accomplished "first", so now we get to work on all the little, small things...the details.  And I love details.